international factors 165- Both India and Israel are faced with diffi cult problems arising from
exclusive and expansionist movements in the Moslem world... - If normal po liti cal relations can be envisaged, there are good pros-
pects for free and fruitful inter- change in the scientifi c and cul-
tural fi elds. - [On questions such as] Italian colonies, the Franco regime in
Spain, the treatment of Indians in South Africa, enquiry into the
positions of aborigines in Latin America, the Israeli attitude coin-
cided precisely with that of the Indian delegation. - Israel has always attempted to understand the special interests and
problems which have made it diffi cult for India to take an objective
and detached view in the dispute between Israel and the Arab states.^1
By listing the commonalities between the two, Israel was suggesting that
these provided sound reasons for India to expedite recognition and nor-
malization of relations.
Lack of progress on normalization resulted in Israel sending its direc-
tor general of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs to India. In February and
March 1952, Walter Eytan came to India and met a number of Indian
leaders and diplomats, including Prime Minister Nehru, who hosted him
over lunch. Eytan handed over an offi cial memorandum to his Indian
counterpart, G. S. Baipai. In this communication Israel declared:
- Israel desires to establish full diplomatic relations with India.
- Israel is a parliamentary democracy— probably the only true de-
mocracy in the Middle East... - Israel’s foreign policy is one of strict in de pen dence, identifying it-
self with that of no other country or bloc of countries... - In pursuit of this in de pen dence in foreign aff airs, and because she
has always felt to be an integral part of Asia, Israel was among the
fi rst countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China [in Janu-
ary 1950]. She had maintained friendly relations with that republic
ever since. No other country in the Middle East has recognized the
People Republic of China. - Israel is a vital, vigorous, hardworking, progressive society. She has
carried out large- scale projects of social and economic reform... - It is one of Israel’s primary aims to raise the productivity of her
soil.... Israel has no unemployment thanks in part to Government’s
program of public works...