The city of Prague was undergoing a transformation today as plans for entertaining the Eighteenth World Zionist Congress, which opens at Laucerno Hall August 21, rapidly took shape.
Along block after block of the city’s streets, the white and blue of the Zionist flag, in bunting, pennants and flags, was to be seen along with placards and banners of greeting to the delegates who have already begun to arrive from Europe, Palestine and America. Large signs over the main through fares of the city welcome the delegates in six languages, with German conspicuously omitted. All German inscriptions and signs have been removed from the City Council Hall where the sessions of the Congress, after the opening one, will be held. Use of the city’s street cars without charge was given to members of the Women’s International Zionist Organization.
It is understood that the delegates to the Congress will eliminate the German language from their deliberations, replacing it wherever possible, with Yiddish.
Chaim Nachman Bialik, celebrated Hebrew poet, who is now in Vienna, will not be able to attend the Congress, it was learned yesterday. He recently underwent a kidney operation and has not recuperated sufficiently to take part in the Congress.
Dr. Eduard Benes, Czechoslovakian Minister for Foreign Affairs, will make a special trip to Prague from Geneva to deliver his greetings to the Congress in person, it was learned today.
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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.
