(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
All views that are fighting for supremacy in Jewish public opinion in East European countries were voiced in the general debate at yesterday’s sessions of the Conference on Jewish Rights.
The debate followed the conclusion of the presentation of papers by Dr. Zwi Aberson, representative of the Committee of Jewish Delegations at Geneva, and Dr. Wishniak.
Dr. Aberson argued in his paper that the principle of self-determination of the small peoples proclaimed by President Wilson did not solve the problem of the national minorities in Europe. The Palestine mandate has realized the Jewish state idea but for the Diaspora countries the protection of minorities is necessary. The international peace treaties have realized only the minimum demands in this regard and the fight for the extension of these rights is imperative. For the present, however, the action of the committee ought to be based on the ground of the clauses now in force, he stated.
Dr. Wishniak dwelt in his paper with the procedure attending the submission of petitions by the national minorities to the League. He pointed out the necessity of reforms in this procedure and stated that proposals to this effect were submitted by a number of international organizations.
Dr. Emil Margulies of Prague urged Jewish participation in international organizations from which recognition of the existence of a Jewish nation would accrue, he stated. He urged participation particularly in the national minorities congress and in pacifist organizations.
In the general debate Mr. Tchernichow of Vilna polemized with Dr.Dubnow with regard to his attitude toward Russia. The social experiments in Soviet Russia signify the beginning of a new epoch of social emancipation for the Jewish masses, he argued. Dr. Leon Reich of Lemberg sought to define more clearly the purpose of the conferene. Its purpose is not a fight against any of the states but rather a defense of the rights of the Jewish populations.
M. M. Ussishkin of Palestine voiced a sharp protest against Mr. Tchernichow’s presentation of the Jewish situation in Russia. In an impassioned address Mr. Ussishkin denounced the Soviet government for its continuous persecution of Zionists and the Hebrew language. He described the tragic fate of the three million Russian Jews, calling forth great applause from the delegates.
Deputy Gruenbaum who followed Mr. Ussishkin pointed out that the purpose of the conference was not to fight out the differences prevailing in Jewish life among the various parties but rather to create a central organ to continue the work begun in 1919 and to lend aid to the fight for Jewish rights carried on by the local Jewish representatives in the various parliaments.
Delegate Federbusch expressed recognition of the accomplishments of the Committee of Jewish Delegations but polemized heatedly with the attitude toward the school question.
Rabbi Nurok of Riga attacked those Jewish organizations which refused to participate in the Zurich conference. He emphasized the importance of the work of the Committee of Jewish Delegations and called attention to the special services of Dr. Motzkin. With regard to the situation in Latvia, he stated that the Latvian government is supporting the Jewish schools on a large scale.
Hillel Zlatopolski urged that the conference create a fund to support the Jewish national youth movement in Western Europe. H. D. Naumberg, Voelkist delegate from Warsaw, presented the views of his party coucerning the language question and the productivization of the Jewish masses.
Dr. Ben Zion Mossinson urged the conference to take the stand against the persecution of Zionists in Russia.
Dr. Szabad of Vilna representing the Voelkist party stated that his party was opposed to Bolshevism but must appreciate the importance of the tremendous transformation now taking place in Russia within the masses, who are proceeding to productive work there.
Delegate Heller recommended that the local Jewish groups conduct a national policy but warned against coalition with the local reactionary parties.
Jacob Fishman, managing editor of the “Jewish Morning Journal,” stated that the American delegates came to Zurich for no other purpose than to lend fraternal cooperation so that the work begun in 1919 might be continued.
Five committees were appointed by the chairman to consider proposals and resolutions.
A difference of opinion developed with regard to the report submitted by the credentials committee. According to the report 65 delegates representing 13 countries are attending. Of this number 21 represent the American Jewish Congress, 9 from Poland. 9 from Palestine, 3 from Latvia, 2 from. Lithuania, 2 from Greece and 1 from Esthonia. Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America, objected to the Confirmation of the Credentials of several delegates. Nahum Sokolow emphasized the representative character of the conference. The conference then approved the report of the Credentials Committee.
A banquet for the American delegates in honor of Nahum Sokolow and Dr. Leo Motzkin was given by Benjamin Titman, one of the American delegates.
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.
