Rabbi Wise Criticizes, Prof. Morris Cohen Approves N.Y. Times’ Anti-zionist Editorial

Two statements, one approving and the other disapproving the views expressed by the New York Times in an editorial last week opposing the formation of a “Zionist Army” and the post-war establishment of a “Zionist State” are published today on the editorial page of the New York Times. The statement criticizing the editorial is signed by Dr. Stephen S. Wise in his capacity as chairman of the American Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs. The statement praising the editorial comes from Morris Raphael Cohen, professor, emeritus of philosophy at the New York City College.

Declaring that there has been no demand for the formation of a “Zionist Army,” Dr. Wise says in his statement: “The proposal envisaged, not the formation of a separate Jewish army, but the organization of a Jewish military force as an integral part of the British and Allied commands. The proposal was born of the profound conviction that thousands of Jews in Palestine could make their most effective contribution to the defeat of Fascism if they were organized under their own flag and fighting in the name of their own people. General approval of Dr. Weizmann’s proposal was given by Mr. Churchill’s government; and preliminary steps toward formulating a plan for the organization of the Jewish divisions were taken. No effective action, however, followed. The proposal, approved in principle, was stymied in its implementations by a series of improvised objections. None of the arguments that have been advanced against the formation of a Jewish military force can stand the test of objective scrutiny.”

Dr. Wise then argues against the fear expressed in the N. Y. Times’ editorial that the establishment of a Jewish military force in Palestine would be tantamount to sanctioning creation of a Jewish national home in that country. “Such views,” Rabbi Wise writes, “are wholly invalidated by the facts and come a quarter of a century too late. The justice of the Zionist claim was recognized some twenty years ago by the representatives of over fifty nations at San Remo. The purpose of the Balfour Declaration was integrated in a policy of this country by a Congressional resolution adopted in 1922 and signed by the President of the United States. That policy has since been reaffirmed by every American President.”

JEWISH NEGOTIATIONS WITH ARABS URGED BY PROF. COHEN

Prof. Morris Raphael Cohen, in approving of the anti-Zionist views expressed by the N.Y. Times’ editorial, says: “It seems too obvious for discussion that the desperate need of defending the eastern gateway to the Mediterranean and the oil fields of Iraq and Iran, whether by a separate Jewish army or by one based on the general Near East population, which is predominantly Arab, is something that must be left to the military authorities in touch with the actual situation without interference on the part of laymen in a country thousands of miles away.

“Perhaps not so obvious, but certainly no less important, is the warning against the false or near-sighted nationalistic philosophy behind this proposal – namely, that the cruel sufferings of the Jews can be removed by setting up a politically independent Jewish State in Palestine. No one at all acquainted with the horrible plight of the harassed Jews in Hitler-ruled Europe doubts that hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions, of Jews will have to leave Europe to find living room elsewhere, and that for material as well as moral reasons Palestine offers a haven to them. Elementary political sense and decency, however, must recognize that Palestine can be made available for this purpose only by negotiations with the native Arab population of the country. No people will submit to being made a minority in their own land. Against any such attempt the Arabs will certainly fight, and in such a fight they will have the support not only of 30,000,000 fellow-Arabs but the sympathy of all lovers of democracy and fair play.”