If the summit meeting should fail, he said, this would mean “not only a reversal of the previous situation but would also increase tension which might erupt in various places.”
In his survey of the situation of world Jewry, Dr. Goldmann denounced Soviet policy, asserting that in Russia it was becoming “increasingly clear that the official policy evidently is the complete assimilation of the Jewish community within its surroundings.”
“The Jewish people cannot accept such a situation and forget the existence of 2,000,000 Soviet Jews,” he asserted. “Fortunately, there are indications that this discrimination only strengthens the Jewish consciousness of Soviet Jews. We as a people are obliged to raise this issue in its full gravity to mobilize world public opinion to help us.” He rejected charges that such action constituted siding the cold war.
The proposals to broaden the base of the Zionist Organization were strongly supported and equally strongly attacked during the debate which began today.
Dr. I. Schwartsbart, of the Confederation of General Zionists, hailed the proposals. Barnet Janner, president of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain, urged concentration en practical work rather than “undue, emphasis” on constitutional questions. Dr. S. Levenberg said that the Poale Zion movement would support the Goldmann proposals.
Surprise was occasioned by the position taken by Rabbi Max Kirshblum of the Mizrachi, a member of the Jewish Agency executive. He urged retention of the status quo. Other speakers, including several Israeli members of the Council, called for greater vitality in the Zionist: movement and urged intensified efforts to spread the Hebrew language and to develop immigration.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
