Anglo-jewish Association Prepared to Join London Parley Despite Absence of Zionists

The Anglo-Jewish Association made clear today that it is prepared to join the current Palestine Conference at any time it feels its participation could be helpful in reaching some solution.

A general meeting of the Association endorsed by an undisclosed vote the position of its executive committee, which was outlined by Leonard Stein, chairman of the organization, Stein criticized the Jewish Agency for its refusal to join in the conference and said that the Association “is ready to participate at any stage where it can be of service.” Although criticizing the continued detention of Agency leaders, he charged that the Zionist decision to reject the British invitation might lead to the Jewish case being lost “by default.”

The Agudas Israel, which also met today to define its stand on the parley, decided in view of the sudden resumption of negotiations between the government and the Jewish Agency to defer its decision in the expectation that the situation would be clarified in the near future.

Rabbi I.M. Levin, Agudah leader in Palestine, expressed the hope that a satisfactory solution of the present impasse would be found enabling the Jewish groups to participate in the conference in dignity, thus bringing peace to Palestine. H.A. Goodman, the Agudah political secretary, reported he was consulting with representatives of other Jewish organizations and with members of the Agudah executive in Jerusalem and New York.

Dr. Isaac Levin, of New York, who has just returned from a three-months visit to Germany and Austria, urged participation in the conference but appealed to the Palestine Government to make a gesture of good will by admitting the homeless refugees of Europe.

The Daily Herald, official organ of the Labor Party, today appealed to Zionist leaders to join the conference, declaring that their boycott of the talks “may have fateful, historic consequences.” It added that Jewish leaders have nothing to lose by attending.

The Herald editorial said that it is understood that the Arab states have presented their case “in a spirit which has been consistently moderate and constructive,” and expressed the belief that “given good-will on all sides,” a solution which will advance both Jewish and Arab interests can be found.