Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds Announces Settlement of Upa Conflict

Full settlement of the differences between the United Palestine Appeal and the Committee of Contributors and Workers was announced today, assuring national united fund-raising in 1949 for Jewish needs in Europe, Israel and immigration to America.

The announcement was made by Edwin Rosenberg, chairman of the conciliation committee of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, which conducted negotiations between the two groups on behalf of its 800 organized Jewish member communities in the United States.

“On behalf of the organized Jewish communities of America which annually raise the funds needed to carry on the work in Israel, I am gratified that the settlement of problems affecting the United Palestine Appeal has been accomplished,” Mr. Rosenberg declared in announcing the agreement. “Communities throughout the nation will greet the news with enthusiasm and with renewed determination to raise maximum funds to meet the crucial needs of Israel during the coming year.”

Coming at a time when Jewish communities throughout the nation are beginning to prepare for 1949 campaign organization, the division had, until its settlement, delayed normal fund-raising plans to assist in the transportation and adjustment of thousands of immigrants to Israel. The resolution of differences will now hasten the reconstitution of the United Jewish Appeal, which had a goal of $250,000,000 in 1948.

AGREEMENT COVERS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF UNITED PALESTINE APPEAL

The accord covered the powers and functions of the U.P.A., clarified procedures for disbursement and allocation of funds, composition of governing bodies, procedures for re-constituting the U.J.A., voting by mail or telegraph in certain circumstances, and provided for cancellation of the December 11-12 conference called by the Committee of Contributors.

Concerning representation on the governing bodies of the U.P.A., it has been agreed that 60 percent would be designated by the Palestine Foundation Fund and the Jewish National Fund, beneficiaries of the U.P.A., and 40 percent representation would be from the American Jewish communities. The procedure for designation of community representatives will be determined by the U.P.A. in consultation with the Council. A small sub-committee of the committee will be available to the council for consultation regarding these procedures.

Subject to the above provisions, the U.P.A. will elect its own officers, will determine the organization’s administrative budget and all matters of staff personnel, and will establish all rules of procedure required for the functions of the U.P.A.

The income of the U.P.A. will be made available with the greatest promptitude to the principal beneficiaries, namely the treasury of the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the head offices of the Palestine Foundation Fund and Jewish National Fund in Israel. The U.P.A. will disburse such funds through agencies and procedures authorized by these beneficiaries.

The U.P.A. will also be empowered to make its own recommendations regarding special allocations or grants for agencies other than the principal beneficiaries. Recommendations made by the American Palestine Foundation Fund and the Jewish National Fund will go to the U.P.A. for consideration and action by it before they are transmitted to Israel. (Minority as well as majority reports may be transmitted). Final decision on all grants and allocations rests with the head offices of the Palestine Foundation Fund and the Jewish National Fund in Israel, and the executive of the Jewish Agency. The U.P.A. will negotiate an agreement with the J.D.C. for setting up the U.J.A. and for the conduct of the joint campaign.

OPPOSITION CANCELS ATLANTIC CITY CONFERENCE; BOTH SIDES ISSUE STATEMENT

Mr. Rosenberg announced that the Committee of Contributors has cancelled its Atlantic City conference which had been scheduled for December 11-12, in view of the settlement of the issues, and that they will promptly discontinue all activities connected with this controversy.

“It is mutually expected by all concerned,” the Council said, “that upon the call to communities to designate their representatives, which will be done in accordance with the agreement, no vestige of any division affecting the U.P.A. will be left.” Members of the Council’s conciliation committee which negotiated the accord were Mr. Rosenberg Stanley C. Myers, Miami, C.J.F.W.F. president; Daniel Shiman, Newark, chairman of the C.J.F.W.F. national-local relationships committee; H.L. Lurie, C.J.F.W.F. executive director; and Philip Bernstein, associate director of the C.J.F.W.F.

Negotiators for the two groups issued a joint statement commenting on the agreement. The statement reads: “The settlement arrived at today insures continuation of a united fund-raising effort in 1949 to meet the tremendous needs of Israel The transportation of thousands of immigrants to Israel and their prompt absorption into the lifestream of the new nation is the paramount responsibility of American Jewry for the coming year. We shall now proceed with the utmost urgency to establish the United Jewish Appeal for 1949 as the means of raising the overwhelming sums needed to carry out this task and other responsibilities in relation to Europe and resettlement of refugees coming to this country. The 1949 U.J.A. campaign must be the most successful in history.”