An appeal to all Zionist factions to make all the compromises necessary to achieve and maintain unity in Zionism was made here by Professor Selig Brodetsky, member of the London Executive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, in an address before the Stamford Hill Zionist Society.
Pointing out that the World Zionist Executive was fighting for Jewish rights in unfriendly surroundings and with the gigantic task of restoring a nation to its land, Professor Brodetsky declared that much had been accomplished by the Executive in recent months, particularly in bringing order into Zionist finances.
“I am not a factionalist,” Professor Brodetsky said, “but it is necessary to fight against any attack on the concept of political unity. The policy of the Executive is based on a conception of the right of the Jewish people, independently of any other nation or government, to live in its own land under its own conditions. Our partnership with Great Britain was based on idealism on both sides, infused by the spirit of the Bible. And if Great Britain saw something in Palestine which might be useful to herself, we should welcome, not decry, this community of interest.
“Out watchword is cooperation with Great Britain—not necessarily slavish acquiescence in all that the government does. We have had dignified disputes with the Palestine government, and these had results. The present High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Wauchope, has shown an understanding of the meaning of Palestine which is most gratifying.
DEBATE ON METHODS
“The last few weeks have seen a fresh controversy about political methods imported into Jewish life. The Revisionists have talked about a coalition — if the other parties would accept their program. But on this question there can be no compromise. Our political status in Palestine is bound up with Great Britain. We do not have so many friends in the world that we can afford to antagonize one of them.
“Vladimir Jabotinsky has emphasized the value of Jewish pressure all over the world to force the Palestine government to permit greater immigration to Palestine. But the opportunities must be created first; the first thing is to get on with the work in Palestine. Noise is not a political method; if you shout long enough people become accustomed to it and pay no attention. Pressure is not a political policy either.
“Another Revisionist leader has talked of negotiating with central European governments for the purpose of enabling Jews to emigrate. This kind of talk is nonsense; there is no difficulty in their emigrating, even from Germany; statesmanship is, however, required in finding a place for the emigrants to settle.
“One of the greatest achievements of the Executive has been to secure permission for Jews leaving Germany to take as much as $5,000 with them. But apart from Palestine, facilities for entering other countries have been infinitesimal.
“Unity must not be compromised. Leadership must be left to the leaders; anything else will be chaos. The Jewish nation will be rebuilt by hard work, not by demonstrations,” Dr. Brodetsky con###ded.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
