A program designed to restore the rights of millions of Jews in Europe and establish safeguards against the encroachment of anti-Semitism in the U.S. was adopted this afternoon by the annual convention of the American Jewish Congress.
The Congress also voted to maintain its membership in the General Jewish Council but directed its members to continue efforts to have the present policy of the Council reconsidered and overruled and be replaced by a policy “to allow the Council to function as the directing agency in the work of defending the rights of Jews.”
Presented by Louis Lipsky, the resolution as adopted holds that in order to make the Council a functioning body the following steps are necessary:
“Extension of the membership of the Council to include adequate representation for other American Jewish groups, in order that the General Jewish Council may become a body representative of all classes and groups in American Jewish life;
“Pooling of the fund-raising endeavors of all four agencies and the fixing of their budgets;
“Creation and recognition of local county councils organized upon a representative basis under the exclusive supervision of the General Jewish Council.
“Effective coordination of the existing diverse activities of the four agencies by placing all such activities under the direct supervision of the General Jewish Council.”
In respect to European Jewish problems, the convention, in a resolution, said the world must assure creation of a “new system of international morality and justice to make amends for the injuries sustained by the Jews and to fully guarantee them their rights to life, security and a free cultural development.” It urged support of the World Jewish Congress’s special institute to set forth the peace aims of the Jewish people.
The convention asked full recognition of Jewish rights in Palestine.
Regarding the combating of anti-Semitism in the U.S., the Congress adopted a program dealing with infiltration of racial and un-democratic propaganda, discrimination against Jews in employment and the need for the organization of individual members of the Jewish community. A new undertaking will be the establishment of a permanent commission for vocational guidance to assist Jewish youth to secure jobs. Establishment of a special commission was authorized to combat anti-Semitic propaganda
Dr. Stephen S. Wise, who with Dr. Nahum Goldmann conferred with Secretary of State Cordell Hull today, was reelected president of the Congress. Judge Nathan D. Perlman was elected vice-president and Lipsky was elected chairman of the governing council. Carl Sherman, former New York State Attorney-General, was elected chairman of the administrative committee and Max Wolff, chairman of the National Council. Speakers today included Polish Ambassador Jerry Potocki, Senator Mead and James Freeman, Episcopal Bishop of Washington.
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