Predict Reservations Will Not Hamper Formation of the Jewish Agency

The reservations made by the General Zionist Council at its Berlin session with regard to the recommendations of the Joint Palestine Survey Commission will not be a great obstacle in the final consummation of the Agency, is the general assumption in press comments on the subject.

The “Jewish Tribune” writes: “We are glad to note that the General Council of the World Zionist Organization has after a great deal of discussion, which has incidentally cleared the air, adopted a resolution declaring that the recommendations of the Joint Palestine Survey Commission “can essentially serve for the creation of a program of work for the extended Jewish Agency.” It was but natural that the report of the Joint Commission should not be approved in toto by all Zionists; the report laid down several very definite suggestions which were bound to run counter to the pet theories of some of the many groups which go to make up the Zionist Organization, but these few points upon which there has been disagreement are not of great importance.

“The fact remains that the report of the Joint Palestine Commission is. and ultimately will be universally acknowledged to be the most important Zionist document since the Balfour Declaration. Aside from its insistence that the Government of the country undertake such obligations as are recognized by modern society to be the duties of the State and which in the case of Palestine have either not been performed by the Government or have been undertaken by and at the expense of the Jewish people, the report is based upon the belief that insofar as the physical development of Palestine is concerned efforts must be along lines which have been successful in the past in the development of other lands. To be firmly established, the new Jewish settlement in Palestine cannot depend altogether on enthusiasm and nationalist fervor, although without these, all other efforts will fail. In addition to these factors, development on a firm business basis as distinguished from philanthropic efforts must be followed. The report of the Agency Commission is a program which was most carefully and conscientiously prepared by men who can speak with authority on the subjects covered. and the Jewish people should give it a fair trial.”

The “American Hebrew” comments: “The General Council of the World Zionist Organization, after more than a week of stormy sessions in Berlin, has adopted resolutions welcoming the Joint Palestine Survey Commission’s report and accepting its recommendations with Certain suggestions for modification. Only four negative votes were recorded out of a total of forty-five. This report. as will be recalied, was drawn up by Messrs. Warburg and Frankel, representing America, Lord Melchett and Dr. Wassermann, representing Great Britain and Germany respectively, based upon the Palestine Survey made by non-partisan experts.

The report and the recommendations were accepted by Mr. Louis Marshall in behalf of the American Non-Partisan Conference on Palestine and by Dr. Weizmann in behalf of the World Zionist Organization. The General Council is the body of Zionists which functions for the World Zionist Organization in the interim between congresses. Dr. Weizmann was forced to extend himself before the Council. to cajole and to threaten in behalf of the Jewish Agency, as he had to do before the Zionist Congress last year; but he carried the day. or the week, and triumphed in behalf of the upbuilding of Palestine as against the doctrinaire Zionists.

“Starting the discussions at fever heat. which threatened to wreck the entente established between Mr. Marshall for the non-Zionists and Dr. Weizmann for the Zionists, late despatches indicate that the objections taken by the Council to certain recommendations contained in the report are not of a very serious nature. The Joint Commissioners stated frankly that their report was “for the guidance of a reorganized Jewish Agency.” This means that the non-Zionists are not bull-headed fanatics with regard to their proposals. Therefore. there will be discussion and compromise–and the reorganized Jewish Agency will. as we have often said. Now proceed at a more accelerated pace.”