Move for Compromise with American Delegation Made; is Unacceptable

After an all night session, the Committee on Committees of the Zionist Congress evolved a proposal to the American Zionist delegation to settle the question of their representation on the Jewish Agency Council by a compromise. These proposals, however, were found to be unacceptable by the leaders of the American delegation.

The Committee on Committees proposed two alternatives: 1. To refer the question to the incoming Zionist General Council; 2. To allot to the American Zionists, in addition to the 10 seats to which they are entitled under the party key, the 7 seats left vacant by the Zionist Revisionists, because of their decision not to enter the Council. The American leaders, however, indicated their unwillingness to agree to these proposals and the crisis caused by the ultimatum of the American delegation overshadows the deadlock into which the Zionist Congress fell due to the difficulty of arriving at an agreement between the parties for the composition of the new Executive.

Although most Americans consider the ultimatum delivered in their behalf last night as “utterly disgraceful” they regard this action as inevitable. All the members of the administrations of the Zionist Organization of America and the United Palestine Appeal, the American Zionist fund raising Agency, appeared before the Committee on Committees and declared that its decision to recommend to the incoming Zionist General Council the consideration of the Americans’ claim and the possible allocation to them of the vacancies created by the abstention of the Zionist Revisionists is not satisfactory. “These proposals are not acceptable, do not meet the rightful rep- (Continued on Page 2)

resonations of the American delegation, which stands by its declaration of last night, and finds itself regretfully compelled to withdraw its representative from the Committee on Committees, the budget committees and other committees,” the Americans declared.

As the situation stood at noon on Tuesday no solution of the problem was in sight. The possibility even appeared that some European groups which supported the Agency extension plan will vote against the ratification of the pact if the Americans’ demand is met.

“If this is done, the formation of the extended Jewish Agency will be left to the American Zionists and the American non-Zionists,” they declared.

The vote on the Jewish Agency ratification will take place probably at the Tuesday night session. In the meantime the defiant attitude of Harry Sacher in his address Monday stiffened the opposition to him in the Left wing, setting back the possibility of an early agreement on the composition of the Executive. Some observers were of the opinion that the Congress may adjourn, following the precedence of the Fourteenth Zionist Congress, without electing an Executive. In that case the present Executive, headed by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, will continue in power, subject to the approval of the Council of the Jewish Agency.

Other Congress committees were in session all night. When the sun rose, the delegates reported progress.

The Committee on the Jewish Agency met with the Committee on Organization and, according to a report, these committees completed their work on the Agency report with the exception of the clause providing for the manner of the possible dissolution of the Jewish Agency. On the question of a binding vote for the Zionist members of the Jewish Agency Council, a recommendation will be submitted to the Congress to the following effect: “The Zionist Congress may transfer to the Zionist General Council or to the Zionist half of the Agency Council its right to bind the Zionist Agency members to a joint vote. On the other hand, the Zionist membership of the Jewish Agency, together with the Zionist General Council, may, by a two-third majority, lift the obligation to a binding vote.”

The Mizrachi members on the Jewish Agency Committee spoke against a binding vote of the Zionists on the Jewish Agency, contending that in matters of religion, in which they are principally interested, they cannot be subject to majority rule, nor can they bind themselves in advance to vote with the rest on any question of a religious nature on which the vote will be declared to be binding. It also appeared likely that the Mizrachi members of the Agency Committee will submit a minority report on the Agency ratification, as they wish to guard against the interference of the Jewish Agency in religious matters.