With the arrival here yesterday of 34 German Zionists as delegates to the World Zionist Congress, the question of whether or not the Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany shall be discussed at the Congress came to a head.
It is understood that since a majority of the delegates are determined to discuss the treatment of Jews in Germany at this Congress, a proposal will be made that the German delegation should not participate in the Congress, and thus give a free hand to those who insist that the Congress must publicly condemn the Nazi atrocities.
The World Conference of the General Zionist Confederation, consisting of “Group A” Zionists who recently split away from the General Zionist World Union because of its opposition to the present Executive and to the Palestine Federation of Labor, opened yesterday.
The conference was addressed by Dr. Selig Brodetsky, member of the World Zionist Executive, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Kurt Blumenfeld, leader of the German Zionist Organization, and many others.
This conference will have to adopt a constitution for the World Confederation, elect an executive and also decide on the policy of the organization with regard to many Congress issues.
The General Zionist World Union, the so-called Group B Zionist wing, is also conducting sessions here behind closed doors, as are the Laborites and representatives of other factions.
The Keren Hayesod, Zionist colonizing agency tendered a reception to 450 delegates to the World Zionist Congress at the Congress and Arts Palace.
Speaking at the reception, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of New York voiced regret that American Jewry has failed to contribute sufficiently towards the Palestine upbuilding work in recent years, and assured the delegates that more strenuous efforts are now being made to enlist the aid of Jews in America for Palestine.
Refugee High Commissioner James G. McDonald arrived here today to witness the World Zionist Congress. He will greet the Congress at its opening here tomorrow.
The Congress Court was asked to invalidate the eleven mandates won by the Mizrachi, orthodox Zionist organization in America, on the grounds that the Mizrachi delegates had not contributed to the Keren Hayesod. According to the Constitution of the World Zionist Organization only Zionists who have contributed to the Keren Hayesod, Zionist colonizing agency and chief Zionist fund, are eligible to be delegates at the World Zionist Congresses.
Meanwhile, it was reported in Congress circles that the conditions on which Weizmann would agree to run as president of the World Zionist Organization include not only the demand that he have the right to nominate his own candidates for the Executive, but also that the next Congress take place four years hence instead of in two years as usual. This latter demand, it is stated, is made because Dr. Weizmann requires two years in which to complete certain plans that he is contemplating, and it would require another two years to put them in effect.
It is also reported that Dr. Weizmann is particularly interested in having as members of the next Executive the two British Zionists, L. B. Namier, former political secretary of the Jewish Agency, and Leonard Stein, honorary counsel of the Jewish Agency.
All these demands, however, will be opposed by numerous delegates including many Laborites, who are Dr. Weizmann’s strongest supporters.
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.
