The Administrative Committee of the Jewish Agency Council under the chairmanship of Felix M. Warburg held its first meeting Wednesday evening following the close of the four day sessions of the Jewish Agency Council when the pact of harmony between Zionists and non-Zionists for the rebuilding of Palestine as the Jewish National Home was consummated amidst memorable scenes.
The Administrative Committee confirmed the election of Mr. Warburg as its chairman. Nathan Straus of New York was chosen honorary chairman and Oscar Wassermann of Berlin, director of the Palestine Foundation Fund.
The Administrative Committee also chose from among its members three sub-committees, on finance, on policy and a special committee for the contemplated Palestine finance corporation. The next session of the Committee is to be held in March 1930 in Palestine.
The historic session of the Jewish Agency Council came to a close Wednesday at 4:30 P.M., several hours before sunset when the Jewish calendar calls for the observance of Tisha B’ab, commemorating the destruction of the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Roman legions more than eighteen hundred years ago.
Baron Edmund de Rothschild was chosen honorary president of the Jewish Agency Council, Dr. Chaim Weizmann president, Louis Marshall chairman and Lord Melchett of London associate chairman.
Felix M. Warburg was chosen chairman of the Administrative Committee of forty, which is composed of twenty Zionist and twenty non-Zionist members. The following Americans were included in the non-Zionist part of the Committee: Dr. Cyrus Adler, Philadelphia; James Becker, Chicago; Meyer Elsasser, Los Angeles; Dr. Lee K. Frankel, New York; Alexander Kahn New York; Herbert H. Lehman, Lieutenant-Governor of the State of New York; Louis Marshall and Felix M. Warburg. Members from other countries chosen include Robert Pollack, France; Major Harry L. Nathan of London; Dr. Samuel Goldflamm Warsaw; Karl Halpern and Mr. Schleicher, Poland ; Oscar Wassermann director of the Deutsche Bank, Berlin; Rabbi Leo Baeck, Berlin; Dr. William Filderman, Bucharest, Roumania; Oscar Gruzenberg, Riga, representing Latvia, Lithuania, Esthonia and Finland; Rabbi Emanuel Loew, Hungary, Joseph Popper, Czechoslovakia.
The following Americans were elected in the Zionist part of the Administrative Committee: Morris Rothenberg, New York; Judge William M. (Continued on Page 3)
NON-ZIONIST PERSONNEL OF EXECUTIVE NOT ANNOUNCED YET
The non-Zionist personnel of the Agency Executive was not announced as yet. According to an announcement by Mr. Marshall, who presided at the concluding session, the question was settled in the following manner: for the first year the Agency Executive is to consist of twelve members, eight Zionists and four non-Zionists. The names of the four candidates will be submitted later to the Administrative Committee. Should the non-Zionists fail to submit the names of their candidates for the Executive within six months, the Zionist candidates elected by the Zionist Congress may succeed to these places. Until that time the eight Zionist members will constitute the Executive. Beginning October 1930, the Agency Executive will consist of only eight members, 4 Zionists and 4 non-Zionists, with the proviso that should the non-Zionists fail to appoint their candidates within six months, the Zionists will have the right to fill the empty seats. The agreement on this point was regarded by the Zionists as a generous move on the part of the non-Zionists.
SCENES OF JOY AND CRIES OF “MAZELTOV” AS PACT OF HARMONY IS SIGNED
The Town Hall, where the final session, lasting one hour, was held, was filled with cries of “Mazeltov!” as the representatives of the Zionist Organization and the leaders of the non-Zionist groups in fifteen countries, following the lead of the Americans, affixed their signatures to the final text of the constitution of the Jewish Agency embodying the pact of harmony between the Zionists and the non-Zionists. Moving scenes of joy were enacted when the leaders of the various groups and the delegates embraced and kissed each other in exultation over the brotherhood and unity among Jews of all shades of opinion in support of the ancient dream and ideal of the rebuilding of Palestine. There was an added element of historic drama in the event as it was recalled that at this very hour observant Jews throughout the world were about to gather in their synagogues and temples to recite the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah and the poems and prayers of Jewish poets and sages over the destruction of Jerusalem and for a Zion rebuilt.
Dr. Weizmann embraced Mr. Marshall during the signing ceremony, and many of those who walked up to the small table on the platform where the text of the constitution was being signed were overcome with emotion, shedding tears and unable to speak as they were called upon to say a few words before signing the constitution.
The exercises were brief and simple, but they raised the participants to a high pitch of emotion and solemnity.
THE SIGNERS OF THE CONSTITUTION
On behalf of the American non-Zionists, the pact was signed by Louis Marshall, Felix M. Warburg and Dr. Lee K. Frankel; on behalf of the World Zionist Organization the document was signed by Dr. Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow. The representatives of the non-Zionists were then called up in alphabetical order of the countries they represented. Among them were Joseph Meyuchas on behalf of Palestine, Oscar Wassermann on behalf of Germany, Dr. Samuel Goldflamm for Poland, Chief Rabbi Alkalay for Jugoslavia, Grigori Wolf for Lithuania, Oscar Gruzenberg in behalf of Latvia, Mr. Friedman on behalf of Hungary, Mr. Dreyfus-Brodsky on behalf of Switzerland, O. E. D’Avigdor Goldsmid for England, ex-Senator Bercovici for Roumania.
The signatures were affixed with a gold pen, which will be presented to the Jewish Museum in Palestine. The event will be inscribed in the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund.
During the ceremonies, Dr. Weizmann, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Warburg, James N. Rosenberg, Nahum Sokolow and Col. Frederick H. Kisch made short addresses.
MARSHALL ANNOUNCES ENLARGED JEWISH AGENCY FORMED
The signing ceremonies took place following the reading of the constitution by Mr. Marshall, who concluded emotionally, declaring: “I have the honor to announce the enlarged Jewish Agency formed.” When the constitution was signed, he said: “I have the honor to announce Dr. Chaim Weizmann as the first president of the enlarged Jewish Agency.”
Dr. Weizmann, radiating happiness, cried out: “I hope to live to see Eretz Israel Ha’benuyah (Palestine rebuilt). There are two Jerusalems, one above and one below. We aim to achieve the Yerushalayim Shel Mallah (Jerusalem above). Here we proclaim ‘Shalom, Shalom lerahok velekarov!’ (Peace, peace to the distant and to the near).”
Nahum Sokolow, who was the second signatory, recited the benediction of Shehiyonu, whereupon the non-Zionists were called.
CONSTITUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY
Before the signatures were affixed, the final text of the Jewish Agency constitution, long the subject of negotiation, was adopted unanimously,
AMENDMENTS AGREED UPON
Among the amendments agreed upon is one calling for the inclusion in the constitution of a clause making it a part of the program of the Jewish Agency for Palestine to care for the satisfaction of the religious needs of the Jewish population, without infringement upon the freedom of conscience. Another amendment fixes the term of office of the delegates to the Council, Zionists and non-Zionists, at two years.
During the reading of the constitution, Mr. Marshall commented on various points. Concerning the dissolution clause, he declared that “We dislike talking of dissolution before the Agency is born. It is like attaching a divorce clause to a marriage certificate.
“No consititution was more carefully considered. The negotiations have been very difficult, because the two sides were on opposite sides of the ocean. Since arriving here we have been working day and night. Outstanding lawyers, much experienced, were doing everything to make the document as perfect as possible, although we know that a perfect constitution does not exist,” he said.
WEIZMANN PAYS TRIBUTE TO MARSHALL
Dr. Weizmann paid tribute to Mr. Marshall as the man with whom he started the negotiations for the Jewish Agency seven years ago. “He presided fairly and ably at this session of the Council,” Dr. Weizmann said, presenting Mr. Marshall with an album of Palestine pictures, expressing the hope that he will come to Palestine to see the country.
THANKS FOR BEING ENABLED TO SHARE IN WORK
Mr. Marshall, responding to Dr. Weizmann, and addressing himself to the assembly: “My friends, and now we are friends,” thanked the Zionist Executive and especially Dr. Weiz-“whose presence in the United States enabled the non-Zionist Jews of America to share in the work. “I appreciate the gift. I have always felt in my soul the spirit of Palestine. Unity among the warring elements of Israel was accomplished. We reached a mutual understanding on the basis of concessions and in an effort to bring about the great thing we have in mind. You made it possible to do this work speedily and, I hope, well,” Mr. Marshall said.
At the motion of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Dr. Leonard Stein, political secretary of the Zionist Organization, was elected honorary counsel of the Jewish Agency in recognition of his devoted work in the drafting of the constitution.
The delegates, unable to restrain themselves, rushed to the platform, to shake the hands and embrace the leaders, especially Dr. Weizmann, Mr. Sokolow, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Warburg, Louis Lipsky and others.
In his telegram read at the meeting accepting the post of honorary president, Baron Edmund de Rothschild expressed his hope that “with the aid of God great accomplishments will be made in the upbuilding of Jewish Palestine.”
The entire praesidium of the session was seated on the platform during the signing of the pact, among them Deputy H. Farbstein, Dr. Lee K. Frankel, Oscar Wasserman, Dr. Leo Motzkin, Oscar Gruzenberg, Nahum Sokolow, Louis Marshall, Dr. Weizmann, Prof. Albert Einstein, Felix M. Warburg, M. M. Ussishkin, David Ben Gurion and Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff. Immediately behind them were seated the members of the Zionist Executive.
His face shining happily, a sixteen year old Zionist youth of Vienna, blotted the signatures of the Jewish leaders as, one by one, they signed the pact. The session was concluded with the singing of the “Hatikvah.”
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