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Exclusion of American “reds” Stirs Storm at World Congress

August 10, 1936
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Exclusion of five radical United States delegates stirred the first storm of the World Jewish Congress tonight which ended with almost all the delegates voting to support the executive in denying the “Reds” admission.

Only twenty delegates voted to back the protest of J.L.Fine, representative of labor and trade unions of London, who pointed out that Dr. Stephen S. Wise, in his opening address last night, had stated that the congress would not exclude any Jewish groups.

Mr. Fine said exclusion of the Communists might lead to difficulties if the congress intended to negotiate with the Soviet Government about modifying its unfavorable attitude toward Hebrew and Zionist work in Russia.

The storm broke after his address. Dr. Nahum Goldmann, who was presiding, restored order with difficulty.

Replying for the American delegation, Louis Lipsky of New York, asked that the congress refuse to admit the radicals, who claim to represent 500,000 Jews in the United States, because they had declined to condemn the Palestine Communists for siding with the Arabs in current disorders.

“We cannot forget or forgive the Communist disloyalty to Jewish interests in Palestine, ” he concluded.

Led by Dr. Wise, the eighty American delegates, about a third of the total number, organized themselves into a united bloc, electing Mr. Lipsky as chairman and Mendel M. Fischer of New York as secretary. They decided not to press for a majority in the various committees.

At a luncheon this afternoon the American delegation subscribed $5,000 to support the congress.

Federal Judge Julian W. Mack was elected honorary president of the congress tonight and the following members of the praesidium:

David Pinsky of New York, Dr. Goldmann, Mr. Lipsky, Ben-Zion Mossinson of Palestine, Dr. Wise, Rafael Shereshewski, Dr. Henry Rosmarin of Poland, A. Reis, Rabbi Mordecai Nurok of Latvia, M. Salymeyer, Dr. Israel Yefroikin of France, Councillor Davis of England and Rabbi Brodt.

The secretariat includes Dr. Samuel Margoshes of New York, Max Hollander of New York, Dr. Kramer and Rabbi M. H. Stern, also of the United States, M. Blum and M. Kruker.

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