Jewish Agency Hits Hebrew Liberation Committee; Calls It “political Charlatanism

The Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Jewish National Council of Palestine – the two leading bodies of Palestine Jewry – today issued warnings to all “serious minded people” not to be misled by the newly-formed “Hebrew Committee for National Liberation” which claims to represent the Jews of Palestine and Europe.

Branding the formation of this Committee as “an unscrupulous piece of political charlatenism,” the Jewish Agency said that people “should not let themselves be misled and confused by freak bodies assuming high-sounding titles.” The Jewish National Council used similar expressions in denouncing the Washington group. Vigorous attacks on the Hebrew Committee for National Liberation are published in all Palestine Hebrew newspapers.

The text of the warning issued by the Jewish Agency was cabled today to the Zionist Organization of America for publication in the American press. The Jewish National Council of Palestine cabled its statement to Rabbi Stephen S. Wise to be published in the United States by the American Jewish Conference. The Jewish Agency said:

“The appearance in the United States of a body styling itself Hebrew Committee for National Liberation must be branded as an unscrupulous piece of political charlanism. Its contention that the Yishuv is not free to speak through its elected political representatives is preposterous. The overwhelming majority of the Yishuv is democratically organized and represented by the constitutionally established organs, the Assefath Hanivcharim (Palestine Jewish Assembly) and the Vaad Leumi. (the Jewish National Council of Palestine). They have full freedom to voice the Yishuv’s feelings and political aspirations, and have done so in outspoken terms and in opposition to the present official government policy.

“The rights and the interests of the Jewish nation as a whole with regard to Palestine are represented by the Jewish Agency incorporating the World Zionist Organization. This warning must be addressed to all seriously minded people not to let themselves be misled and confused by freak bodies assuming high-sounding titles, and enunciating policies for which none but their representative authors are responsible.”