Ben-gurion’s Plan

A far-reaching plan to change fundamentally the organizational basis of the Zionist organizations in the various countries throughout the world, and coordinating them into one uniform body was proposed by Mr. Ben-Gurion to the pre-Congress conference of the Labor delegation now being held here. The conference ### have to approve the plan before it is submitted to the World Zionist Congress.

The plan, which provoked heated discussion at today’s session of the conference, is similar in character to that proposed by

Ben-Gurion on his recent visit to the United States. It provides for the set-up in each country of a Zionist organization consisting of all Zionist groups and parties, and with one single administration composed of representatives of all groups in the same proportion as these groups are represented at the Zionist Congress or in the World Zionist Executive.

According to the plan, all Zionist groups and parties will be permitted to conduct their independent activities as heretofore, but no one group can consider itself the Zionist organization in the country, as is now the case in the United States where the so-called General or center Zionists, call themselves the Zionist Organization of America.

The plan has met with stiff opposition on the part of numerous laborite delegates who point out that the merging of all groups into one single administrative body would result in the gradual disappearance of group distinctions and group interests within the Zionist organization. This the opponents of the plan consider to be detrimental to Labor’s interests.

A final decision on this plan is expected either today or tomorrow.

It is also reported that the Laborites have offered the Mizrachi two seats in the next Executive in order to lay the basis for a coalitionary administrative body. According to the offer, one seat is to be for an Executive member with portfolio, the other, without portfolio.

Mizrachi, however, is understood to have demanded three seats of which two shall be with portfolio.

With war clouds over Abyssinia, and the Arabs in Palestine somewhat agitated over the fate of their Ethiopian kinfolks, the Jewish State Party, dissident group that last year split from the Revisionist Party and decided to remain with the official Zionist Organization, meeting here today, urged that special reforms be undertaken by the Palestine Government in the military system of the country.

The Jewish State Party demands that the Palestine military system be reorganized so as to give the Jews an opportunity to join.

The Jewish State Party also demands abolition of the present hachshara system for training pioneer workers for Palestine, and that instead this be replaced by compulsory labor conscription for all youth in Palestine.