Louis Lipsky Replies to David A. Brown on Charges Against Rabbi Wise

Taking issue with David A. Brown, Chairman of the Palestine Emergency Fund, for remarks of aspersion cast upon Dr. Stephen S. Wise by Mr. Brown in a statement to the newspapers of Sunday, Louis Lipsky, President of the Zionist Organization of America, in a statement before a special meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization held all day Sunday at the Hotel Astor, characterized as “baseless and uncalled for and hurtful to the cause of unity” the charge made by Mr. Brown that Dr. Wise had broken the united Jewish front.

Mr. Lipsky’s statement was as follows:

“It is to be regretted that David A. Brown should have made the statement attributed to him in the press on Sunday morning. Had he known the facts he would not have spoken as he did and raised the question of a united front at this time. He could easily have ascertained the facts from Felix M. Warburg, who knows the source of the proposal for the calling of an all-Jewish American conference for Palestine. It was at the invitation of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the Jewish Agency, that Dr. Wise, forgetful of past differences, placed himself in the service of the Zionist Administration, promising to further the calling of such a conference. This conference was not to be an independent effort, but was to emanate from the Jewish Agency, of whose Administrative Committee Mr. Warburg is Chairman. Approval of the calling of this conference, leaving the date open, was given by the National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization and by the Executive Committee of the American Jewish Congress.

“When the American Jewish Congress received a reply from Mr. Warburg suggesting that a conference at this time would be premature, the American Jewish Congress agreed to abide by his decision. The insinuations of Mr. Brown regarding Dr. Wise are therefore baseless and uncalled for, and, I am afraid, may be hurtful to the cause of unity which Mr. Brown thinks he is serving.”

David A. Brown, who is in Detroit on business, authorized his New York office, by telephone yesterday, to issue the following statement:

“I am very happy to learn that the American Jewish Congress has decided to abandon its plan to call an All-Jewish Conference regarding the recent occurrences in Palestine and to abide by Mr. Felix M. Warburg’s decision that the calling of such a conference at this time would be premature.”

Mr. Brown, in his statement published in the metropolitan press on Sunday attacking Dr. Wise, said inter alia: (Continued on Page 4)

“The expectation of the civilized world with regard to how the Jewish people shall conduct themselves in these trying times is predicated on the fact that very shortly before the incidents occurred which have so pained the Jewish hearts and so shocked all humanity, there was, after years of deliberation and negotiation, finally established an authoritative body, the Jewish Agency, with a mandate from the Jewish people to deal with them and for them and to deal with the British Government, with all the governments within the League of Nations and with the whole world in all matters relating to Palestine.

“And, as a matter of fact, it seemed for a considerable period that the greatly desired and necessary Jewish unity had been established. The Jewish outcry against the outrages in Palestine was shared in equally by those who have never been able to accept the political phase of the Jewish development of that land. They, as well as the most ardent Zionists, joined in a protest that was as potent as it was dignified.

“It is greatly to be deplored, therefore, that this united front has been broken-broken by one who loudly proclaimed that he had been summoned to Paris and asked for his help by the president of the Jewish Agency, who is also president of the World Zionist Organization. Just why, in the face of these utterances, just why, after joining his voice with the leaders of American Zionism, he should now choose to propose calling an all-Jewish conference’ to do something or other regarding Palestine is a mystery which can be solved by only the chosen few who can follow his mind. That, I confess, is something more than I can do.”