“The meeting of the Jewish Agency’s Administrative Committee removed misunderstanding, restored harmony and concluded with a general feeling of satisfaction,” declared Felix Rosenbluth, one of those elected to the Executive of the Jewish Agency, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “It was remarkable,” he said, “how for the first time leaders of the non-Zionist group were brought into intimate touch with current problems, revealing that they are not less anxious to advance the work of reconstruction of Palestine.”
Mr. Rosenbluth pointed out that substantial agreement had prevailed regarding the political situation, and the policy of the Jewish Agency was laid down as far as the uncertainty regarding the Inquiry Commission’s report allowed and unanimously adopted by the meeting. He said that the financial commission had unanimously endorsed the budget of $3,500,000 and recognized the necessity for energetic efforts to raise the requisite funds.
Efforts to overcome the financial difficulties of the Palestine Executive will depend, he continued, on the results of the campaigns to be conducted in the various countries on behalf of the Keren Hayesod and whether it will be possible to inaugurate regular and systematic activity. Mr. Rosenbluth explained that the Administrative Committee had even enlarged on the Zurich program by immediately proceeding to settle large numbers of families on the land and this action was seen as an expression of the view which finally triumphed at the meeting.
Mr. Rosenbluth is of the opinion that there is a good prospect of obtaining the means necessary for financing the program and that there is every reason to hope that the new work would begin at an early date as soon as the arrangements are completed. The delegates from Palestine, Mr. Rosenbluth said, were much gratified to find that their demand for extended colonization was echoed by the meeting and to hear both individuals and groups promise their support in no half-hearted manner.
All of the outstanding differences in the field of organization, he pointed out, were settled without particular difficulty and in a spirit of mutual good will and the status of the executive as the body responsible for the management of current Agency affairs within the limits of the resolutions adopted by the Administrative Committee wasn’t questioned.
Mr. Rosenbluth said that arrangements were made to obtain the close association of the chairman of the Administrative Committee with current of the Agency, and to invest him jointly with the president with an appropriate measure of influence on the decisions of the Executive in matters of particular importance. He said also that the Administrative Committee had agreed, regarding the administration in Palestine, to a division of work between the Executive as the responsible body exercising supreme control and the permanent heads of the departments of directors who shall enjoy a considerable measure of independence in their sphere of work.
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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.
