An answer to an editorial which appeared in the last issue of the “New Palestine” with regard to Zionist Revisionism, was made by Vladimir Jabotinsky Sunday night at a meeting of the Zionist Revisionist League. The large hall of the Hias building was filled to capacity.
“The value of a program is not determined by the number of its followers,” Mr. Jabotinsky declared. “Still, Zionist Revisionism has made such rapid progress that it hardly can be called normal. The first conference of the Zionist Revisionists was held last April and while the Zionist Revisionist Party is not even a year old, it has become an important factor in the Zionist movement. The official and semi-official press sounds almost weekly warnings against the ‘Revisionist danger.’
“In several European countries, Lithuania, Bukowina, a considerable number of Revisionists have been elected to the Executives of the various Zionist federations. In Palestine, the Revisionists are the largest body on the Assefat Ha-Nivcharim outside of the labor groups.”
Mr. Jabotinsky derided the contention that the Revisionist program contains “nothing new,” that it merely insists on those demands which the present World Executive has long been fighting for. I wish it were true, but it is not. Dr. Weizmann proclaimed in Palestine only a year ago that we should forget politics for a number of years to come; at the last Congress he spoke against the Revisionist demands with regard to land, tariff reform, and the Jewish defense force. ‘Haolam’ and ‘New Judea.’ the two official organs of the Executive, publish articles under the heading ‘Back to Hoveve-Zionism.’ The semi-official ‘Juedische Rundschau’ preaches against the creation of a Jewish majority in Palestine. No, sir, there is unfortunately a profound difference between the official conception of Z–onism and the Herzlian conception, which is ours.
Mr. Jabotinsky denied that Revisionism meant belittling the necessity of practical work in Palestine. “Have I not explained in speeches and articles that we need ninety-nine per cent practical work in Palestine and perhaps only one per cent of political activity.? But this one per cent is the key, the premise for our entire work in Palestine. As to the present political activity of the Zionist Executive, I am prepared to credit them with the best intentions, but their method is wrong. It consists in ‘approaching’ a minister; and if he says ‘no,’ then it remains ‘no.’ This is the method of the old Shtadlanim–I use the word with all respect for the Shtadlanim were also good men, devoted to the Jewish people. But the modern method of political activity is quite different: it consists in organizing moral pressure on a government. Today’s governments in Europe depend on public opinion. In order to obtain concessions from a government, you have first to shape public opinion in favor of our demands–to conduct a political offensive.’ A case in point is the failure of the British Administration to grant land to the legionnaires, while it has already given land to the Arabs. The British Empire has recognized the principle that the demands of the soldier have to be satisfied first, yet the British administration does not hesitate to satisfy the Arab first because they know that if the Arabs’ demands will not be fulfilled, there will be protests and public outcries, but they know that nothing will happen if the Zionist demands are turned down. If you want to make your claim urgent–urge!” Mr. Jabotinsky declared.
A dramatic climax was reached when the speaker termed the attitude of some Zionist circles as that of “Gruess mich nicht unter den Linden.” “While they do not hesitate to express approval of our program in private, they avoid public identification with me. What have I done to deserve this treatment? Would I not bestow on them at least as much honor as they on me?”
The speaker concluded by urging the American Revisionists to sway the Zionist Organization of America in openly declaring itself in favor of radical changes. “And remember that there will soon be a new Congress, and that the Zionist statute provides that elections to the congress should be held everywhere by direct and secret popular vote. each individual shekel payer dropping his sealed ballot in the ballot box. This time, the rule must be enforced.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
