Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, president of the Zionist Organization of America and head of the American section of the world Zionist executive, conferred in Washington with Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and British Ambassador Lord Inverchapel on the decisions of the Zionist Congress, it was revealed here today.
Dr. Silver informed them of the proceedings of the Congress, its background and the resolutions adopted. He expressed the hope that “these conversations will prove helpful.”
A strong plea to all Zionists “to give the new world Zionist administration their fullest support and the fullest chance to work in a most difficult and delicate situation” was made by Dr. Silver addressing a mass meeting here last night, attended by more than 8,000 persons. He said that the Zionist movement emerged united from the Basle Congress and declared that “a change in leadership does not mean a disruption in a country or in a movement.”
At the same time Dr. Silver also addressed an appeal “to all patriotic Jews in Palestine, regardless of their affiliation, to refrain from those acts of desperation which are endangering our political situation both in Palestine and elsewhere.” Calling for a truce, he said that an earnest and determined effort, perhaps the final one, must be made in the next few weeks or months to discover whether a just and peaceful solution can be found and every opportunity must be given to ensure the success of such an effort. He appealed to Palestine Jews regardless of party affiliation to submit to national discipline and not to do anything at this time which might endanger the Zionist political position.
“The Congress resolved to resist unceasingly and with utmost vigor the persistent violation of the rights of the Jewish people. However, it condemned murder and the shedding of innocent blood and it called upon members of dissident organizations to desist and to submit to national discipline,” he said. He indicated that should the new executive fail in its attempt to come to a peaceful and just solution in the next few months “you will find all Jews united to resist to the bitter end.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
