Hadassah National Board Votes ‘no Confidence’ in Present American Zionist Administration

A vote of “no confidence” in the present administration of the Zionist Organization of America, definitely aligning the Hadassah leadership with the oppositional elements within American Zionism against the Lipsky administration, was passed at the closing session of the National Board of the Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization of America, late Sunday night.

About one hundred and thirty members of Hadassah, including the members of the National Board and chairmen of Hadassah chapters and regional units, were present at the sessions which began on Saturday night and ended late Sunday night. The sessions were declared executive and no press representatives were admitted.

A statement issued after the close of the session declared that the spcial meeting of the National Board was called for the purpose of clarifying the position of Hadassah toward the present administration of the Zionist Organization of America and to ascertain the consensus of opinion of Hadassah’s constituency on the question “whether or not there is a need for a change in the present Zionist administration in this country and as to the steps that should be taken to that end.”

In regard to this matter the statement quoted the following resolution adopted:

“The National Board of Hadassah, despite its criticism of the present administration of the Zionist Organization of America, considers itself a constituent part thereof, and has formulated a constructive program for its next annual convention.”

The Jewish Daily Bulletin learns unofficially that the Hadassah delegates to the forthcoming Zionist convention will be instructed to support a plan by which the convention is to effect a change in the American Zionist Organization leadership by electing a committee of seven to administrate the affairs of the Zionist Organization of America, instead of choosing a president and an Administrative Committee of twenty-seven. The committee of seven is to choose its own leader from among itself, according to the plan.

An unconfirmed report also stated that a recommendation will be sumitted to the forthcoming national conventiong of the Hadassah that the Hadassah should not renew the agreement to enter the United Palestine Appeal for the coming year.

“In addition to voting confidence in Mrs. Lindheim, who was recently the subject of criticism for having voiced her personal view of the present administration of the Zionist Organization of America, the National Board re-affirmed its support of the Jewish Agency and of the world Zionist Organization,” the statement given out after the session Sunday declared.

The publicity department of the Hadassah also made public the text of a statement read at the Sunday afternoon session by Mrs. Lina Straus, wife of Nathan Straus. It appears from the statement, which was in behalf of both Mr. and Mrs. Straus, that they are opposed to the present administration for having directed affairs “in a manner not conducive to the interest of the cause of Zionism in this country.”

A statement by Mr. Straus made public on Sunday, April 14, declared, on the occasion of Dr. Wise’s resignation, “That man is not my friend who is against him (Dr. Weizmann) for he has given his life to the cause.” At that time Mr. Straus also said, “I am thoroughly against the placing of obstacles at this critical time in the way of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, and Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America.”

Mrs. Straus in her statement to the Hadassah board on Sunday declared: “My husband and I have but recently ascertained that the affairs of the Zionist Organization of America have been administered in a manner not conducive to the interest of the cause of Zionism in this country. This condition has prompted me to come to you today as you are about to engage in a conference, which means so much to the cause dear to all of us, in order that I may assure you of the support of myself and husband, and also to wish you Godspeed in your efforts to aid the movement now being organized to better Zionist conditions in our be loved country.

“I want to indorse not only Mrs. Lindheim’s leadership, but to brand as unjust and unfair the criticism which has been levelled at her recently by the present leadership of the Zionist Organization of America, and to urge the members of Hadassah to rally and to support the very worthy successor to her very worthy predecessor and the Hadassah leaders in any move they may decide upon in this conference.

“We are not quoted correctly in the statement implying that Hadassah is ‘playing polities.’ We see that Hadassah, on the contrary, has been the victim, and that Hadassah itself under the leadership of its president, Mrs. Lindheim, and the National Board, has sought openly, consistently, and conscientiously to meet its Zionist obligations as voters of the Zionist Organization of America.”