German Crisis Chief Issue As World Zionists Gather

Standing upon a record which puts Palestine on that small but honorable list of countries not only not affected by the depression but actually enjoying an unrivalled degree of prosperity, the Eighteenth Zionist Congress opens here Monday in the presence of approximately 350 delegates.

Many are the problems which the Congress will have to solve, but chief of these is how to consolidate the gains already achieved, by the obtaining of sufficient funds and by giving to the Zionist movement a consolidated leadership which would unite, in concentrated effort, the various Zionist groups now functioning.

With the Jewish position in Germany going from bad to worse, the Zionist Congress at this time will also be faced with the concrete problem of the Jewish position in the Diaspora and also with the extent to which Palestine as a Jewish home in the future could help German Jewry as well as the Jewries of other countries where anti-Semitism, linked with tragic economic difficulties, would tend to make the Jewish position in those countries desperate, leaving the Jews of those lands no other refuge but Palestine.

LABORITES DOMINATING

In the light of this situation of which many of the delegates are aware, it is expected that the greatest amount of debate and consideration will be given to the demand for permitting a larger emigration into Palestine.

There is no doubt that the dominating role in the Eighteenth World Zionist Congress will be played by the Laborites who constitute almost half of the entire Congress delegation, especially when the possibility is borne in mind that many of the General Zionists and the radicals will go hand in hand in hand with the labor groups, without reservations.

At this Congress the Americans will not play the important role they have been accustomed to enact at previous Congresses. While other countries are represented at the Congress with increased delegations, the United States came with a decreased representation, which will affect the influence of the American Zionists not only from the point of view of numbers, but also morally.

After the general problem of increasing the emigration facilities into Palestine, the big question immediately facing the delegates is: Will Dr. Chaim Weizmann, former chief of World Zionism, return to the Presidency?

This query can be answered in the affirmative only if Dr. Weizmann comes to the Congress in person and participates in its deliberations just as “the average Zionist soldier.”

FORFEIT OF LEADERSHIP

However, should Dr. Weizmann prefer to abstain from showing himself at the Congress unless especially sent for—which, it is rumored, may be done—then he will definitely be forfeiting his opportunity again to lead World Zionism, because even the Laborites, who have been his staunchest supporters, will not go out of their way for him.

So far, the method of procedure which the Congress may take to make known its protest against the persecution of German Jews is still unclear. Diplomatic delicacy is involved, and the matter is being discussed privately in executive circles. It may be declared definitely however that the situation of Germany’s Jewry is occupying the Congress very seriously, and that the proceedings of the Congress will take place under the shadow of Jewish persecution in Germany, the very events which the Congress will do its best to alleviate.