Crisis in Jewish Agency Executive Unsolved; Weizmann’s Reply Expected

The crisis within the executive of the Jewish Agency precipitated by the resignation of David Ben-Gurion as chairman remained unsolved today, notwithstanding the fact that both the executive and the Zionist Actions Committee voted not to accept the resignation.

In accordance with yesterday’s decision, the Zionist Actions Committee today cabled Dr. Chaim Weizmann to come from London to Palestine “within two weeks” in order to settle differences between him and Ben-Gurion here. During these two weeks Ben-Gurion will probably remain inactive in the executive. Should Dr. Weizmann not come to Palestine within the two-week period, Ben-Gurion will let his resignation stand, members of the Actions Committee today revealed.

Everything now depends on Dr. Weizmann’s decision as to whether he can comply with the request to come to Palestine in the given time. It was indicated here that should it come to a break between Dr. Weizmann and Ben-Gurion the former will have the support of the majority of the Zionist Actions Committee and of other Zionist bodies in Palestine notwithstanding the fact that Ben-Gurion has a large following among the Jews here. (In London, it was announced today that Dr. Weizmann has not yet decided on the Actions Committee appeal that he urgently proceed to Palestine. The office of the Jewish Agency in London declared that it had no statement to make on the situation for the present.)

“EITHER WEIZMANN OR BEN-GURION” ALTERNATIVE NOT ACCEPTABLE

Leaders of responsible Zionist institutions said today that the crisis in the executive which resulted in Ben-Gurion’s offer of resignation had not been precipitated by differences between Ben-Gurion and the Zionist movement, but by “principal divergencies between Ben-Gurion and Dr. Chaim Weizmann.”

“The majority of the Zionist movement will not accept the alternative of ‘Either Weizmann or Ben-Gurion’ but will strive for a democratic solution”, the Hazman, a daily newspaper, writes today. “The most responsible leader will have to yield to the decision of the majority, which will not let either Dr. Weizmann or Ben-Gurion go.” The paper emphasizes that Ben-Gurion’s resignation “marks a severe crisis in our leadership.” It says that “the Zionist movement has made Ben-Gurion the head of its executive to lead in the fight against the regime of Zionist liquidation and for a full Zionist solution of the world Jewish problem.”

Talking an opposite view, the newspaper Mishmar, organ of the Hashomar Hatzair, the left wing of the Palestine Labor Party, publishes an editorial saying: “Ben Gurion’s departure will not be regretted by those who are aware of the disastrous nature of the Biltmore Declaration which demands a Jewish Commonwealth in Palestine and which could not withstand the test of practical statesmanship. The Biltmore Declaration, purporting to be the common roof for the whole Zionist movement, proved a poor shelter for unity.”