In a move to end the quarter-century separation between the Jews of Soviet Russia and Jewry in the rest of the democratic world, the opening session of the national conference of the British section of the World Jewish Congress today adopted a resolution inviting Soviet Jewry to join the Congress. At the same time the meeting pledged full support of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee in Kuibyshev. The resolution, unanimously adopted by 200 delegates, was introduced by the delegates of the Workmen’s Circle.
The conference also adopted resolutions expressing satisfaction at the restoration of the Cremieux Decree, urging the establishment of cordial relations and collaboration with Allied and neutral countries and with all humanitarian organizations, and demanding representation for the Jewish people on international bodies engaged in the solution of problems in which Jews are especially concerned. The delegates also expressed appreciation for the work of the executive committee of the Congress in New York. Messages were received from the Jewish Agency, the Board of Deputies, the French Representation in London, the Canadian Jewish Congress and other groups.
Summing up debate at the end of today’s session, Samuel Silverman, M.P., who presided, complained of the inadequate measures taken so far to aid the Jews of Europe and stressed that the Inter-Governmental Refugee Committee still did not contain representatives of the countries “most affected.” He paid tribute to President Roosevelt for his statement emphasizing that anti-Semitic discrimination must not be introduced in an American country and hailed the victories of the Red Army, which, he said, “had contributed more than anything to the solution of the Jewish problem in Europe.” Mr. Silverman said that the British section of the World Jewish Congress did not wish to challenge the authority of the Board of Deputies in questions affecting internal and external matters, but pointed out that there are certain questions which “are above domestic policies.” Tomorrow’s session of the conference will discuss questions of post-war relief and rehabilitation
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.
