PRIME MINISTER DAVID BEN-GURION (ISRAEL) - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/09/1954 CO-SIGNED BY: PRIME MINISTER MOSHE SHARETT (ISRAEL) - HFSID 72622

DAVID BEN-GURION
Israel's first Prime Minister writes letter discussing conversations with fellow politicians
Autograph Letter Signed: "D. Ben-Gurion" in Hebrew in blue ink. 1 page, 4¾x8¼. Tiberias (Israel), 1954 November 9. On ruled sheet of thin paper to Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett. In Hebrew, translated. In full: "Peace be with you. I read with great satisfaction your verbal conversation with [illegible]. But [illegible] and [illegible] talk great concern. The implication of the London Committee of 1938-9 stands still without change [illegible]. That is how Malcolm and Halifax talked. They, without a doubt, mirror [illegible]'s stand. And this is worse than Dulles's stand and without a doubt influences the stand of [illegible]. And again, I do not see any other conclusion other than [illegible]. But, it's known and understood by all, and therefore, there is almost no [illegible]." Also initialled: "MS" by Sharett in Hebrew in red pencil at upper left. The London Committees had first met as the Evian Conference on Jewish Refugees in France in July 1938, with the meetings being moved to London later that year. The Committees sought to involve a number of nations in solving the Jewish refugee problem by attempting to settle refugees in countries where there were adequate resources and economic opportunities. In 1954, Israel and its Arab neighbors were facing a water crisis and the country was developing strategies to divert water to provide for its growing population. DAVID BEN-GURION had served as Israel's first Prime Minister from May 17, 1948 to December 7, 1953, when he was succeeded by MOSHE SHARETT. On November 2, 1955, Ben-Gurion returned as Prime Minister, resigning on June 21, 1963. Sharett was Israel's first Foreign Minister from May 17, 1948 to June 19, 1956, when he was succeeded by Golda Meir. Ben-Gurion was Israel's first Defense Minister from May 17, 1948 to January 26, 1954 and February 21, 1955 to June 26, 1963. LORD HALIFAX (1881-1959) was British Foreign Secretary from 1938-1940 and Ambassador to the U.S. from 1941-1946. JOHN FOSTER DULLES (1888-1959) was U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953-1959. In 1954, the year of his letter, he was the architect of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which united several nations in the fight against Communism. Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Lightly soiled. Note (unknown hand) in blue pencil at upper left margin. Paper clip rust stain at upper blank margin, two file holes at right margin, one touches one word of text. Minor ink transference at lower margin. Overall, fine condition.