Between the Lines

Jews interested in Palestine, whether Zionists or non-Zionists, will study carefully the statement made yesterday by Vladimir Jabotinsky, breaking off further negotiations for peace with the present Zionist Executive and demanding a round table conference of representatives of all groups.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Mr. Jabotinsky’s theories, the charges which he voices against the Executive are grave. Mr. Jabotinsky accuses the Executive of violating the peace pacts signed recently in London and thus throws upon the Executive the blame for destroying the possibilities for Zionist unity.

WAITING FOR A REPLY

We still have to hear what the Executive has to reply to Mr. Jabotinsky’s charges. From a distance it is difficult to establish whether there is any justification for the complaint that the Revisionists are still not receiving immigration certificates for Palestine, to which they are entitled under the London agreement.

Similarly, very little is known in this country as to the intentions of the Executive with regard to changing the printed text of the Zionist shekel, which Mr. Jabotinsky asserts “will be converted into a partisan membership card.”

PARTY FUNDS AND J. N. F.

Somewhat clearer is the complaint about the warning issued by the Executive against the Revisionist Tel Hai fund. This warning coincided with Mr. Jabotinsky’s arrival to America to stimulate a campaign for this particular fund. The Executive is, therefore, open to the suspicion of having to spoil Jabotinsky’s mission to the United States.

It was perhaps unfortunate that the Executive issued its Tel Hai statement at a time when all groups in the Zionist movement were on the road to unity. After all, the Jewish National Fund and the Keren Hayesod are little affected if the Revisionists, in addition to supporting these two funds, also indulge in their own partisan collections. Such collections have been made for years by the Mizrachi and by the Laborites and have not harmed the Zionist Funds in the slightest.

WAR AGAIN?

With the sessions of the Actions Committee scheduled to take place next April, it would be wise for leaders of the various Zionist factions to acquaint themselves fully with Jabotinsky’s charges against the Executive, in order once and forever to bring definite recommendations to the Actions Committee. There is a good deal to be said in favor of the suggestion that the negotiations which the Executive is carrying on with various Zionist groups be turned into round table discussions. The Actions Committee can decide whether this should be done. It would be a grave mistake for the committee to permit the internal party strife to flare up again in a much stronger form than ever, particularly with the next Zionist Congress only a few months off.