Wish Hails Palestine Plank Adopted by Democratic Convention

The adoption by the Democratic national convention of a plank endorsing unrestricted Jewish immigration to Palestine and the ultimate establishment of a Jewish Commonwealth there was hailed today by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, co-chairman of the American Zionist Emergency Council, who expressed confidence that it “will speedily be translated by definitive action into the fulfillment of the age-old aspirations of the Jewish people.

“My associates and I welcome the adoption of the Palestine plank in the platform of the Democratic national convention,” Dr. Wise said. “We are grateful to the leaders of the Democratic Party, including the co-chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, the Honorable John W. McCormack and the Honorable Mary T. Norton, and the distinguished leaders of both Houses of Congress who served on the Committee, in addition to the veteran Liberal, the Honorable Josephus Daniels. The convention delegates, representing the conviction of the American people, adopted the resolution with enthusiasm and unanimity. By this act, the Democratic Party once again reaffirms the historic policy of Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

The plank adopted by the convention states: “We favor the opening of Palestine to unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization, and such a policy as to result in the establishment there of a free and democratic Jewish commonwealth.”

At the same time, the convention went on record supporting Congressional action to secure full rights for racial and religious minorities in the United States. The plank covering the minority question said: “We believe that racial and religious minorities have the right to live, develop and vote equally with all citizens and share the rights that are guaranteed by our Constitution. Congress should exert its full constitutional powers to protect those rights.”