Between the Lines

The projected World Jewish Congress which is to be convoked during 1935 and the United States elections for which are set for the 20th day of April, are facing new difficulties.

Serious differences of opinion between the European Executive of the World Congress and Dr. Stephen S. Wise are now reported from Paris. New complications in the calling of the World Jewish Congress, it is reported, are being made by the Zionist Organization. Even the Revisionists, who supported the project to call a World Jewish Congress now are putting forward certain conditions which will probably lead to a break between them and the organ which is preparing the Congress.

RABBI WISE’S CABLE

Not everybody in the United States may be aware of the fact that Rabbi Stephen S. Wise recently cabled to the Executive of the World Congress in Paris a suggestion made by Louis Lipsky that a special conference to decide the fate of the World Jewish Congress be called in New York with the participation of representatives of the American Jewish Congress, the B’nai B’rith and the American Jewish Committee, although the last two are opponents of the idea of a World Jewish Congress.

In this cable, Rabbi Wise emphasized Lipsky’s viewpoint that it is absolutely essential to come to an understanding with the American Jewish Committee and the B’nai B’rith, because the Zionist Organization in America does not wish in any way to quarrel with these two organizations.

THE “NO” FROM PARIS

The reply of the Executive of the World Congress in Paris to Rabbi Wise was an emphatic “no”! The Paris leaders declared that they would not even discuss Mr. Lipsky’s suggestion.

This negative reply will no doubt lead to a complication in the relationship between the Zionist Organization and the leaders of the Jewish World Congress.

A similar complication is bound to arise between the World Zionist Executive and the Executive of the World Jewish Congress, since the Zionist Executive insists now that the World Congress should not be called in 1935 because the forthcoming Nineteenth Zionist Congress will take place in that year.

CLASH EXPECTED

Determined to have the World Jewish Congress in 1935 under any circumstances, the Executive of the Congress is now flatly refusing to consider the demand of the Zionist Executive. A clash between the two executives is therefore imminent.

Added to the complications which the World Jewish Congress will now face on the part of the American Zionist Organization and the World Zionist Executive, is the outspoken demand of the Revisionists that the Congress be called on the basis of democratic elections only. Such elections will not be possible in most of the countries of Europe.

The Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress in Paris is, nevertheless, not discouraged. Despite the difficulties arising, the Executive is going on with its preparations and is definitely determined to hold the Congress in 1935.