Between the Lines

The fight between Jabotinsky and his extremist followers, which occurred in Krakow at the World Revisionist Conference, and the resignation of the Revisionist Central Committee in Poland, which came as a result of this fight, discloses a very interesting development. It shows that Jabotinsky himself is sincerely for peace in the Zionist movement, even at the price of a split in his own party.

Whether agreeing or disagreeing with the Revisionist party, all admit that Jabotinsky is one of the personalities which the Zionist movement needs today. He is considered a dynamic figure, a person who commands respect, a real statesman.

There are not many figures in the Zionist movement today like him. Jabotinsky, even though he is extreme in his demands and is fighting British policy in Palestine is nevertheless a welcome visitor in the Colonial Office in London and is exceptionally well received in the circles of the Mandates Commission in Geneva.

It is for this reason that the Zionist movement would only benefit if the peace tendencies for which Mr. Jabotinsky has fought at the Revisionist convention in Krakow would prevail also in the other groups of the Zionist Party. There are extremists not only among the Revisonists but also in the ranks of the other Zionist groups. The leaders of these other groups should not be afraid to oppose these extremists, just as Jabotinsky was not afraid to oppose the maximalists at the Krakow gathering.

DETAILS OF LABOR AGREEMENT

That Jabotinsky desires a definitet, peaceful understanding with the Executive and the Laborite Party is to be seen also from his approval of the text of the labor agreement between the Histadruth and the Revisionist Labor Federation. This agreement provides for a complete mutual understanding between the Revisionists and the Histadruth on questions of labor employment in Palestine. It eliminates possible warfare and competition between the workers organized in the Histadruth and workers in the Revisionist Federation. It calls for a fair division of labor between the two competing groups and a fair system of arbitration.

This pact seems to be approved by Ben Gurion on behalf of the Histadruth and by Jabotinsky on behalf of the Revisionists. The extremists in both groups are however, against the terms of the understanding. As a matter of fact, they are against any understanding. What they wish is to eliminate each other.

FINE COURAGE DISPLAYED

The courage which Ben Gurion, on his side, and Jabotinsky, on his, have displayed now by reaching an agreement despite the opposition of the maximalists is the best indication that {SPAN}the#e{/SPAN} two leaders are putting the Jewish interests in Palestine above all party strife. Any demand like the one voiced in Krakow that the Revisionists should secede from the Zionist organization, is nothing but childish caprice. Jabotinsky has done wisely by rejecting this demand and thus demonstrating his willingness to find a common language with the rest of the Zionist movement.