(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Dr. Leon Reich, president of the Club of Jewish Deputies in the Polish Sejm and negotiator of the Polish Jewish agreement, resigned from the presidency of the Club yesterday, following a full day’s discussion on the present situation of Polish Jewry.
The resignation came as a result of the vote taken in the Club on the question of confidence in the praesidium. The resolution of confidence was adopted with a vote of 17 to 13, the latter being that of the Oppositional group, led by Deputies Isaac Gruenbaum and Dr. Ignace Schipper. The Oppositional group submitted a resolution demanding the cancellation of the Polish Jewish agreement and to express lack of confidence in the present praesidium of the Club. When this resolution was defeated, Deputy Schipper exclaimed that a majority of the Club members were cowards and announced his withdrawal from the Club. Dr. Reich and the vice-president, Deputy Henry Rozmarin. declared that in order to avoid a split in the Club they would resign from their posts.
This announcement caused great consternation in the Club. Senator Marcus Braude proposed a special resolution of confidence in the praesidium, which was accepted by a vote of 17 to 6. Deputies Reich and Rozmarin, however, declared that they would not withdraw their resignations, Dr. Reich stating at the same time that he would also resign from the Zionist Party Council.
The meeting had under discussion the political situation, the question of confidence in the praesidium, the issuance of an appeal to world Jewry and to consider the despatch of a delegation of the Club to America. Representatives of the Gruenbaum group. the Mizrachi, the Agudath Israel and of the labor group, Hitachduth, urged that the Club no longer support the coalition government. This meant lack of confidence in the praesidium of the Club. Dr. Osias Thon warmly defended the Polish Jewish agreement.
Several deputies were opposed to issuing an appeal to world Jewry, contending that there are other bodies better suited to issue such an appeal.
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