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for Jewish State Expected to Clinch Decision to Set Up Permanent Conference

December 1, 1947
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The U.N. decision to set up a Jewish State would provide the necessary impetus to win over wavering delegates to support of a permant organization to succeed the American Jewish Conference, it was predicted here today as the 435 delegates representing 62 national organizations and scores of communities began debate on the blueprint for the new organization. A final vote was not expected before tomorrow.

Louis Lipsky, Conference executive chairman, and Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath, chairman of the Committee for Future Organization, expressed confidence that the Eisendrath plan for a permanent body operating through existing national organizations, would win overwhelming approval. Dr. Israel Goldstein, Conference co-chairman, told 3,000 delegates and spectors at the Chicago Civic Opera House that word of U.N. broke up the pre-conference caucus meetings and merged the Zionist and American Jewish Congress blocs, meeting in adjoining rooms, in a victory celebration pledging to work together in a new era for Judaism. Pointing out that American Governmental, financial, moral and political support for Palestine is needed more than ever, Dr. Goldstein declared: "We Jews of America pledge ourselves to help the infant Jewish State."

Proposing "Judea" as the name of the new free, democratic, Jewish State, Dr. Stephen S. Wise declared: "We go forward to give help and counsel to our Jewish Brothers to build the Jewish State, but we in America must not dominate those who have suffered and fought in Palestine to build the Jewish State." He proposed Dr. chaim Weizmann as the first president of the new state. The conference telegraphed President Truman appreciation for his part in chieving victory. "You will be long remembered and honored in the annals of Jewish history for your efforts to restore the homeland," the telegram said. Messages of appreciation were dispatched to U.N. leaders, Jewish spokesmen, the American delegation at Lake Success, David Ben Gurion and the Vaad Leumi in Palestine. The U.N. decision ends "20 long centuries of national homelessness, and premises a new era of peace and security for a people many times the defenseless victims of savage oppression," the Conference wired U.N. leaders.

Elected to the praesidium today were Dr. Wise, honorary chairman; Harry M. Ehrlich, Dr. Eisendrath, Frank Goldman, president of B’nai B’rith; Dr. Goldstein, Mr. Lipsky, Rabbi Irving Miller, Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, Samuel Rothstein, Alex Stanton and Baruch Zuckerman.

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