Allocation of Funds Becomes Issue Between Two General Zionist Groups

A statement disputing a report that the Jewish Agency executive had, at its recent plenary session in Jerusalem, settled the question of the allocation of special funds for use by General Zionists in their constructive programs in Israel, was issued here today by Jacques Torczyner, chairman of the head office of the World Union of General Zionis, which is headed by Dr. Emanuel Neumann.

The statement to which Mr. Torczyner took exception was made last week by Mrs. Rose L. Halprin, chairman of the American Section of the Jewish Agency and co-chairman of the World Confederation of General Zionists, following her return from Jerusalem, where she attended the Jewish Agency executive meeting. Mr. Torczyner’s statement read:

We find it necessary to correct a report contained in a recent statement made by Mrs. Rose Halprin relating to the plenary session of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. According to that report, the Agency executive had settled the question of the allocation of special funds for use by General Zionists in their constructive programs in Israel. It is also asserted that the funds will be divided equally between the World Confederation of General Zionists, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Halprin and Dr. Israel Goldstein, and the World Union of General Zionists, headed by Dr. Emanuel Neumann. Both of these statements are inaccurate. The Jewish Agency in Jerusalem has already dissociated itself from the above-mentioned report by terming it ‘unauthorized. ‘

“The question was not ‘settled’ and there was no decision regarding allocation. The matter was referred to a subcommittee of the Jewish Agency which is expected to submit its recommendations for an interim solution for the period between now and the World Zionist Congress, due to convene at the end of this year. The recommendations of this subcommittee will be considered in due course by the Jewish Agency executive as a whole.”