(May 16) -- A few minutes before five (midnight Palestine time), Mr. Eliyahu Epstein, of the Jewish Agency's Washington Office, handed a letter to the White House, requesting the U.S. to recognize the new Jewish State.

"With the full knowledge of the deep bond of sympathy which existed and has been strengthened over the past 30 years between the U.S. Government and the Jewish people of Palestine," the letter said, "I have been authorized by the Provisional Government of the new State to tender this message and express the hope that your Government will recognize and welcome Israel into the community of nations."

In Frankfurt, General Lucius D. Clay, the U.S. Military Commander of Germany, said today that Jews in Germany and Austria would be assisted to leave for the State of Israel as soon as official word of America's recognition was to hand.