Conference on Jewish Rights Opens Its Sessions in Zurich

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Conference on Jewish Rights convoked under the auspices of the American Jewish Congress with a view to reorganizing the Committee of Jewish Delegations in Paris to act as a central body for the protection of the rights of the Jewish populations guaranteed in the minority treaties, was called into session to-day in the presence of 60 delegates. The American delegation representing the American Jewish Congress was the largest delegation present.

The program and the scope of the conference were a matter of thorough discussion at a caucus of the American delegation held yesterday morning. Judge Hugo Pam of Chicago and Max Steuer of New York presided over the American delegates’ meeting.

Preliminary skirmishes, foreshadowing the differences prevailing among the various groups attending the conference, took place at yesterday’s unofficial meeting prior to the formal opening of the conference to-day.

Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the Zionist Executive, was unanimodsly elected chairman of the conference It was also decided to elect six vicechairmen. At the preliminary session a heated discussion developed when H. D. Naumberg. Warsaw writer, Deputy Szahad of Vilna and Mr. Tschernichow, representatives of the Voelkist group, proposed that the agenda of the conference include a discussion on the general economic situation of the Jewish populations in European countries and to appoint a special committee to submit a report on this subject.

The Amarican delegates opposed the inclusion of this point in the agenda. It was argued that a discussion on this subject would involve a debate on the question of the work of the relief organizations. It was also seen as a veiled attempt on the part of the Voelkists to attack the Zionists. Deputies Gruenbaum and Farbstein, who are participating in the conference, supported the view of the American delegates. The proposal was rejected by a majority vote, the preliminary conference deciding that the agenda include only a discussion on the legal disabilities affecting the economic position of the Jewish population.

Much time was consumed at the preliminary conference to inform the delegates on the purpose of the conference. Some of the American delegates proposed the creation of a new permanant organization of wide ## to include not only Jewish minority right questions but general Jewish welfare.

Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Jacob Fishman, Dr. A. Coralnick and Bernard G. Richards explained to the meeting that the purpose of the conference is to reorganize the Committee of Jewish Delegations which was established during the Peace Conference and which still continues to function, that it become more representative of the Jewish communities, leaving to the minorities themselves the right to decide how they are to be organized and be represented on the reorganized Committee of Jewish Delegations. Rabbi Wise expressed his hope that in time the Committee will be joined by those organizations which are now staying away.

Among the latest arrivals to the conference are M. M. Ussishkin, head of the Jewish National Fund; Dr. Z. H. Chajes, Chief Rabbi of Vienna; Professor Simon Dubnow, well known Russian Jewish historian; Deputy Nurok of Riga, Isaac Gruenbaum, Deputy Farbstein, Dr. Szabad, Vladimir Tiomkin and Colonel Tadger.

Among the American delegates are Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Judge Hugo Pam, Judge Gustave Hartman, Emanuel Hertz, Dr. Joseph Tannennaum, Max D. Steuer, Max Hollander, Bernard G. Richards, Jacob Fishman, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Silverman, Dr. A. Coralnick, Leo Wolfson, Herman Speier, Rabbi Brickner, Mr. Oppen heimer, Rabbi Heller.

In a statement issued to the press following the preliminary conference, according to a cable report to the “Jewish Morning Journal” Dr. Wise declared: “It is indeed a happy day in Jewish life when Jewish representatives of the western hemisphere meet with the Jewish representatives of the so-called minority right ##ntries. The first proof that the conference will disappoint its opponents is the almost unanimous decision of the preliminary conference not to take up any question which is not in its sphere and not to undertake a dscussion on the general economic situation of the Jews in Eastern Europe.”