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CAPETOWN, May 24 (AP).-The Union of South Africa today accorded de facto recognition to the new sate of Israeli. It was the first nation of the British Common wealth to do so. The United States, Russia and several smaller nations have recognized Israel.
Prime Minister Jan Christian Smuts told Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok in a telegram that the recognition does not involve any particular boundaries. He said the South African government would be prepared to recognize any Arab state in Palestine, either as a separate state or as incorporated into neighboring Arab states.
“The Union government expresses its cordial good wishes to the state of Israel as the fulfillment of a Jewish national home in Palestine and as a contribution to historic justice and to world peace,” the telegram said.