Dr. Stephen Wise Leaves Basle Zionist Congress in Anger

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A political rift having direct bearing on the relations between the World Zionist Organization and Great Britain as the Mandatory Power for Palestine occurred in the political committee of the Fifteenth Zionist Congress in session here. This rift had the immediate result of the resignation of Dr. Stephen S. Wise of New York from the chairmanship of the political committee and his hasty departure from Basle to return to the United States.

Leaders of the American delegation and Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, are endeavoring to persuade Wise to return to Basle to continue his work in the Congress, declaring that the rift was based on a misunderstanding.

Dr. Wise was joined by Abraham Tulin, another American delegate, who resigned from membership in the political committee and by Dr. Nahum Goldman, a delegate from Berlin.

The controversy developed at yesterday’s session of the political committee at which the majority of the committee members criticises sharply the policy of the Zionist Executive and the attitude of Great Britain toward its obligation under the Palestine mandate to facilitate the creation of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. Following the discussion, Mr. Abraham Tulin introduced a resolution which was supported by Dr. Wise and Philip Guedalla, British novelist and president of the Federation of English Zionists, calling for the appointment in London of a special committee which would be charged with the task of considering the fundamentals in the relations between the mandatory power and the Zionist Organization and to direct an inquiry into the attitude of the Palestine government toward the Jewish National Home idea. According to the resolution, the committee was to be authorized to negotiate with the British Colonial Office and with the Palestine government under the leadership of Dr. Weizmann.

This proposal was declared by Dr. Weizmann to be inacceptable to him. He stated that the adoption of this resolution would mean an expression of lack of confidence in his leadership.

In view of the fact that the suspicion had been expressed that the American delegation was behind this proposal, a statement was made by Charles A. Cowen, American delegate, in behalf of Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America, that the resolution was presented without the knowledge and the authorization of the American delegation.

Upon his declaration, Dr. Wise angrily declared that he resigned from the chairmanship of the political committee and from the American delegation. He left immediately for Paris.

The controversy called forth great excitement among the American delegates. A meeting of the delegation was called and it was declared that Mr. Cowen was not authorized by the American delegation or by Mr. Lipsky to make this statement. A resolution to this effect was adopted and telegraphed to Dr. Wise, requesting his immediate return or, failing this, to issue a statement of coopera the wite the American celegation to work has no word has been re#### Dr. Wise.

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