Dr Weizmann Presented with Signet Ring Worn by Dr. Herzl

A signet ring worn by Dr. Theodore Herzl, founder of the Zionist political movement, was presented here last night to Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, by Dr. Stephen S. Wise at the closing session of the Extraordinary Zionist Conference at the Biltmore Hotel.

“Some years ago,” Dr. Wise said in turning to Dr. Weizmann, “through the generosity of friends, there was given to me a ring worn until his death by the immortal founder of the Zionist movement, Dr. Theodore Herzl. When presenting the claims of the Jewish people at the forthcoming Peace Conference, I wish you, Dr. Weizmann, to have on your finger the ring of your predecessor as president of the World Zionist Organization. I place it on your hand, which under God is to receive the Victory Charter for a Jewish Commonwealth in Palestine.”

After Dr. Wise placed the ring on Dr Weizmann’s finger, the two Zionist leaders embraced each other as the delegates, moved by the dramatic incident, joined in the strains of Hatikvah.

In acknowledging the gift, Dr Weizmann declared that he considers the Herzl ring “the highest Jewish decoration.” In his closing address, he expressed his conviction that “the chances are not small” that America and England will find a way to solve the Jewish problem and that “Russia too, which has hitherto stood aside from the great current of events in Western Europe might have a word to say in the solution.”

Arab-Jewish relations, Dr. Weizmann said, will be settled in Palestine when the democratic powers, convinced of the justice of the Jewish claims, will tell the Arab world “openly, honestly and unequivocally” that they think that the Jewish aspirations in Palestine are grounded in history and in the work which the Jews have shown.

PHRASE “JEWISH ARMY” IS “SOMEWHAT PRETENTIOUS,” SAYS WEIZMANN

Explaining his attitude towards the question of the formation of a Jewish Army, Dr. Weizmann stated that he thinks the phrase “Jewish Army” is “somewhat pretentious.” An army of 200,000 Jews seems somewhat fantastic, he declared. “I will be satisfied if not an ‘army’ but a Jewish contingent, a few Jewish regiments, will be organized, as I hope and believe they are likely to be,” he said, adding that if once a nucleus is established of the 12,000 Jews who are already in the armed services in the Near East and “if these are given a badge which I hope will be the Mogen David, then another thousand, and another thousand, and another thousand could be added, until the available human material from Palestine has been organized.”

Dr. Weizmann expressed his views on the subject of a Jewish Army following the adoption by the Conference of the declaration in which it was demanded that “recognition should be given to the right of the Jews of Palestine to play their full part in the war effort and in the defense of their country, through a military force fighting under its own flag and under the high command of the United Nations.” The declaration, presented by Judge Louis E. Levinthal in behalf of the Zionist Organization of America of which he is president, was seconded by the Hadassah, Mizrachi and the Laborite Zionists. The Jewish State Party which participated in the Conference did not second it. Its leader, Meir Grossman, later stated that he was prevented from presenting the reasons why his group could not second the text of the declaration.