Goldie Meirson Being Considered for Post of Jewish Agency Political Chief

Goldie Meirson, American-born labor leader, is being considered for the post of chief of the political department of the Jewish Agency to replace Moshe Shertok, who is being held in Latrun prison, it was learned today. If elected, she would be the first woman to occupy the position.

A special session of the Small Zionist Actions Committee, which has been called for Tuesday to hear reports on the Paris meeting of the Jewish Agency executive, is expected to discuss appointment of a person to head the Agency’s political section until a new executive is elected at the Zionist Congress scheduled to be held in November. It is understood that the Actions Committee will consider, as an alternative to naming Mrs. Meirson, the naming of a three-man secretariat to head the department.

Eliahu Dobkin, immigration chief of the Agency who returned this week from Paris, denied last night that there were differences of opinion on basic policy among members of the executive.

At the same time, Avi Lurie, the representative of the Hashomer Hazair on the executive committee of the Jewish National Council, sent a letter to Council President Isaac Ben Zvai informing him that he will refuse to participate in further sessions of the executive because of the Council’s failure to implement its decision to launch a policy of non-cooperation with the government.

Dobkin said that the Jewish Agency meeting was aware of the vital and critical decisions facing the Zionist movement, and despite the worsening of Angle-Jewish relations and the rising tension in Palestine, it conducted negotiations with the British Government in an attempt to find a way out of the present deadlock.

He added that it was not possible yet to foretell the outcome of the negotiations or whether the Agency will be able to participate in the forthcoming London talks.