Woodrow Wilson’s intervention on behalf of the Jews in European countries was recalled yesterday at the meeting of the Council of the Jewish Agency by Dr. Cyrus Adler, the acting-chairman of the Council, in refuting a charge that although President Wilson was the father of the League of Nations and protector of the interests of small nations he had never given a sign or uttered a word in favor of Jewish interests.
This assertion made by Dr. Samuel Goldflamm of Poland was answered by Dr. Adler who declared that President Wilson had done much for the Jews of Roumania, Hungary and Bulgaria. The chairman recalled a conversation with Wilson in 1919 when the president said “Christianity has done so much injustice to the Jewish nation that I want to and am ready to do everything in my power to adjust at least a part of this injustice”.
LETTER WEIZMANN VICTORY
Dr. Goldflamm’s assertion was made in the course of the general debate on the report delivered Monday night by Dr. Adler. Dr. Goldflamm was of the opinion that the Jews had protested too vigorously against England and he asserted that “no government can protect Jewish interests better than England”. He considered the MacDonald letter the greatest success for Dr. Weizmann whom he characterized as a “statesman who always thinks but never speaks of what should not be said. He is the best leader of the Zionist movement and I certainly regret his resignation”.
The general debate was opened by Rabbi Israel Daiches of England. He was followed by Joshua Thon of Palestine, M. Suchovitzki of Poland and Dr. Isaac Unna of Germany. Thon stressed the fact that the Mandatory power had not done its duty to stimulate good-will between Jews and Arabs. The White Paper made relations between Jews and Arabs worse for a long time, he said. Certain Arab circles were ready to cooperate with the Jews, Thon pointed out, but after the publication of the White Paper the position of these Arab circles was much weakened because the White Paper strengthened those Arabs who do not want peace with the Jews.
WEIZMANN GETS OVATION
The session was given a dramatic touch when Dr. Chaim Weizmann, former president of the Jewish Agency and of the World Zionist Organization, accompanied by a number of his supporters, suddenly entered the hall while the general debate was on. He was greeted by a long ovation and the entire Council rose en masse to applaud him.
Upon the invitation of Dr. Adler, Dr. Weizmann delivered a brief and spontaneous address which made a deep impression. Dr. Weizmann declared that he had been accused of conducting a British policy but said that he was “neither pro-British nor anti-British but had attempted to conduct primarily a Jewish policy. Insofar as this policy has been compatible with cooperation with the British government I was happy.
“I hope it will be possible, in spite of a temporary setback, to continue our Jewish policy in this way. What is most important for us now is peace in Palestine. Peace will obtain for us full understanding in world public opinion. We need the sympathy of the League of Nations which is indispensably necessary for our work. We need a full understanding of our cause by the British public. These three premises are essential for us in continuing our work.
“They will give us the possibility of bringing into the country as many people as possible without hurting the interests of others, to purchase as much land as possible without hurting the interests of others, and to build as many things as we are able. What will be the outcome in the long run can neither be determined by this assembly or at any other gathering. We must conduct our work in the frame which the world is offering us. We must base our work upon the world’s understanding.
“My message to you, therefore, is secure as many possibilities as Jewry can secure, as much wisdom in Palestine as possible, and secure peace. I do not doubt that we will reach our goal. When the future historian will write about our present situation I believe he will say that a difficult task rested on the shoulders of a small generation which has done its best to overcome difficulties”.
At the conclusion of his address he was lengthily and enthusiastically applauded.
The morning session was devoted to reports by Dr. Arthur Ruppin, member of the Agency Executive, on the general Palestine situation, and by Dr. Werner Senator, treasurer of the Agency, on the present financial situation of the Agency.
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.
