Council for Judaism Informs State Department of Its Opposition to Jewish Commonwealth

The American Council for Judaism in a memorandum submitted to Secretary of State Cordell Hull and made public today, emphasizes its opposition to the “establishment of Palestine or any locality as a Jewish State or Commonwealth.” The memorandum also urged the adoption of a national policy whereby postwar assistance to foreign countries “would take into account as one of the major facts, that the country under consideration accepts the concept of equality of all its nationals without regard to race or creed.”

“Such a condition to the extension of American aid would be an effective. practical demonstration of our determination to foster the principle of democracy in the postwar world.” the statement, signed by Lessing J. Rosenwald as president of the Council, maintained.

The Council called for a program of rehabilitation of Europe’s Jews and the restoration of their civil, political and economic security on the one basis of a status of “equality of rights and obligations with their fellow nationals. Jews living in all parts of the world as members of a religious faith, are entitled as of right not sufferance, to full equality all over the world.” it stated.

“This means,” Mr. Rosenwald said, “equality in the countries in which Jews live and choose to remain; equality to return to those lands from which Jews have been forcibly driven; equality to migrate wherever there is opportunity for migration.” Pointing out that Jews are “a religious group and not a national group,” Mr. Rosenwald said that “the solution to the problems of Jews rests on recognition of the inalienable rights of the individual. Once that concept of human freedom is unqualifiedly accepted, Jews will require no special measure.”

URGES SIMPLIFICATION OF MIGRATION POLICIES TO EXTEND POSTWAR IMMIGRATION

In behalf of those of all faiths who may need new homes, the statement of the American Council for Judaism called for a maximum simplification of migration policies and the extension of support to “potential centers for large postwar immigration.” In those territories not now having sovereign status, the United States was urged to use its good offices to guarantee that “immigration shall not be limited by racial or

Expressing its opposition to the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine or elsewhere, the memorandum stated, “We urge the adoption of the following principles in a clear declaration of policy on Palestine that would take the place of all previous documents and commitments which have been variously interpreted, and which have led to confusion among our co-religionists and others. Such a policy should, we urge, stress the special character of Palestine as part of the religious heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and make adequate provision for the maintenance of the holy places under international control. It should aid immigration consistent with the fullest possible economic development and political well-being of the country without special limitations or privileges. It should lead to the earliest possible acquisition of self-government, in which all fulfilling the requirements of citizenship shall be free to participate.

“We oppose the establishment of Palestine or any locality as a Jewish State or Commonwealth. We regard as fundamentally undemocratic the procedures involved in such an establishment, such as a preferred status in immigration to those of one religious faith and an arbitrary and indefinite postponement of self-government. Such proposals will, we believe, embroil Jews now in Palestine in continuing civil strife and place in jeopardy the equality of status of Jews everywhere who are integrated in their respective homelands and do not wish to be party to a Jewish State or Commonwealth. Our emphasis, therefore, is on the attainment of the status for Jews of full equality for citizenship – its rights and its responsibilities.”