A severe attack of influenza which has confined me to my bed for the last few days is preventing me, to my very deep regret, from taking part in the Conference, Dr. Weizmann wrote to the Conference of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, which has elected him unopposed as President in succession to the retiring President, Dr. M. D. Eder, apologising for his absence.
I was looking forward with great interest to seeing old friends and to participating in your work, Dr. Weizmann continued his letter. I find it difficult even now to write, and shall therefore limit myself to a few words, firstly of sincere thanks for the confidence which you have shown by electing me as your President, and secondly by wishing your deliberations every success.
The English Zionist Federation has in the last few years taken a very prominent part both in the councils of the movement and in the work of reconstruction in which we are engaged in Palestine, he went on. Devotion, loyalty to our fundamental principles have been the guiding lines on which your work was based. I shall be happy and proud to help you in carrying forward your work and in maintaining those principles which I am sure will in the end lead us on the high road to success.
It was a privilege to work with Dr. Eder, your out-going President, throughout all these difficult years, Dr. Weizmann concluded, and I am confident ‘that it will be given to him to see the fruits of his selfless and devoted labours. I send my greetings to the officers and delegates of the Federation, and hope that an opportunity will be given to me very soon, before I leave for South Africa, to meet them and to discuss fully the programme of our work.
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.
