Z.O.A. Autonomy Issue Was Not Disposed of at Actions Committee, Dr. Goldmann Reports

The extent to which Zionist bodies in the United States will enjoy autonomy and whether they, must subject themselves to decisions of the Jewish Agency executive was not formally disposed of by the Zionist Actions Committee, as there was no motion to this effect, it was reported here today by Dr. ### Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency executive Dr. Goldmann, who addressed a press conference, has just returned from Jerusalem here he attended the ten-day session of the Actions Committee.

This issue was the one over which Drs. Abba Hillel Silver and Emanuel Neumann resigned from the executive. Dr. Goldmann emphasized that while no formal decision was taken by the Actions Committee, the tendency of all parties was to maintain the central authority of the world executive with regard to vital problems concerning the whole of the Zionist movement.

“The resignations,” Dr. Goldmann said, “were accepted unanimously and one of the vacant places filled. The other was kept vacant in order to allow the Zionist organization of America, after its forthcoming convention this month, to make proposals as to the filling of this seat at the next meeting of the Actions Committee.”

Dr. Goldmann reported that all Zionist groups, as well as the Israeli Cabinet, agreed on the necessity of maintaining and strengthening the World Zionist Organization as the main channel for mobilizing the resources of Jews all over the world in support of Israel. At the same time, he added, it was recognized that the great tasks of the Zionist Organization in this respect require that structural changes in the organization may have to be effected to enlist the maximum number of Jews who are ready to help. “Decisions in this respect wore left to the World Zionist Congress which will probably take place this fall or winter in Jerusalem,” Dr. Goldmann said.

The session of the Actions Committee, Dr. Goldmann stated, did much to establish a system of cooperation between the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency executive in the field of immigration and absorption. Permanent committees were established to deal on a day-to-day basis with current problems in this field, he said.