General Zionists Strongest Group

The final report on the party grouping of delegates made public at the closing of last night’s session of the Zionist Congress shows that the General Zionists, or Centrists are the strongest group with 80 delegates. The Laborites have a representation of 77 while the Revisionists, the official opposition to the Weizmann administration, hold 50 Mandates. The Mizrachi or Orthodox Zionists are credited with 36 delegates and the Radicals with 8. A few minor parties have a handful of delegates between them.

Last night’s session again witnessed a tumult in which the Revisionists played a prominent role. When Felix Rosenblueth, a member of the Zionist Executive, accused the Revisionists of sabotaging the Zionist funds and of not maintaining Zionist discipline a terrific uproar ensued. The din compelled Mr. Rosenblueth to halt his address twice. Leo Motzkin, the chairman, finally intervened, saying that while Mr. Rosenblueth’s tone was perhaps improper, the Revisionists would have an opportunity to answer his arguments the next day in an orderly fashion when the general debate opens.

While Dr. Arthur Hantke, managing director of the Keren Hayesod, chief financial instrument of the Jewish Agency, reported that the Keren Hayesod’s income had been 25 percent less this year than the year before, Mr. Rosenblueth declared that there had been no diminution in the number of shekel payers, Poland showing an increased enrollment and no decrease being recorded in the United States. He also said that all of the Zionist parties had been markedly successful in attracting the youth to the cause, the General Zionists included.

ANXIOUS OVER SALONIKI

The Congress was greatly depressed last night over the reports of anti-Jewish riots in Saloniki and when details of the outbreak became known here considerable anxiety was voiced. Leaders of the American Jewish Congress and the Committee of Jewish Delegations are showing profound concern over the situation in Saloniki and are contemplating immediate action.

Neither pogrom nor draconic regulations will prevent Jews from going to Palestine. Menachem Mendel Ussishkin, world president of the Jewish National Fund, told the Zionist Congress yesterday afternoon amid thunderous applause, as he reported on the activities of the Fund, the chief Zionist land-purchasing agency.

Taking issue with Dr. Chaim Weizmann who earlier in the day had declared the Jews should have acquired more land in Palestine, Mr. Ussishkin said that it was the Jewish National Fund that had carried out all of the great land purchases in the Emek, Wadi Hawareth and Haifa against the opposition of the Zionist Executive. Until recently we could buy as much land as possible for many but now we will encounter political difficulties, Mr. Ussishkin added.

SUPPLEMENTS WEIZMANN’S REPORT

Preceding Mr. Ussishkin’s speech, Prof. Selig Brodetsky, a member of the Zionist Executive, rendered a report supplementing Dr. Weizmann’s description of the political situation. Professor Brodetsky discussed the negotiations between the Jewish Agency and the British government and declared that the Jewish protest after the palestine riots of 1929 had made an impression on the government and had simultaneously increased the displeasure of British statesmen.

Professor Brodetsky emphasized that in deciding its future political policy, the Congress should not be influenced by temporary moods but should first of all consider the possible effects of its chosen policy.