Leaders of the Israel Bond Committee in Detroit today issued a statement protesting against the national headquarters of the Israel Bond campaign arranging a dinner for bonds here on March 1 while preparations are in progress for the local 1955 Allied Jewish Campaign.
The statement, which will be published in the Detroit Jewish News tomorrow, is signed by Phillip Stollman, chairman of the Detroit Israel Bond Committee, and David Safran, chairman of the Bond executive committee. It informed Detroit Jewry that the Bond executive committee had voted overwhelmingly at two meetings to protest against the sponsoring of a dinner for Bonds on March 1.
Messrs. Stollman and Safran stated that it was the strong conviction of the Detroit Bend executive committee that no public functions should be held while preparations are in progress for the 1955 Allied Jewish Campaign, but that the national bond leaders had overruled their decision and completely ignored the sentiments of local leaders.
“We have protested to the Israel Embassy and the Israel Ministry of Finance,” the two leaders stated, “and have been informed that the matter will be reviewed soon. But by ignoring our sentiments the national bond leaders are flouting all democratic principles and we protest against such arbitrary and autocratic action. In Israel’s best interests, it is our sincere hope–with a week’s time left for action–that the national bond office will concede the right of local leaders to act on dates to be chosen for bond functions in Detroit. For the sake of successful Allied Jewish Campaign and Israel Bond drives and in support of the highest democratic ideals, we hope Detroit Jewry will support us in the position taken by our committee.”
COMPROMISE REJECTED BY HEADQUARTERS, DETROIT LEADERS CLAIM
Messrs. Stollman and Safran revealed that alternate proposals were made by the executive committee to raise $150,000 in bond sales and collections, without a public function, provided the March 1 dinner were postponed until June. Mr. Stollman, supported by Daniel Laven, offered to issue personal checks in this amount to guarantee the raising of this sum.
“This offer was ignored,” the bond committee chairmen revealed. “We are saddened by the course of events which compels us to make these facts public, but we are convinced that, acting democratically, we can best aid Israel. We remain dedicated to the best interests of Israel and our Jewish community.”
(In New York, Julian B. Venezky, chairman of the executive committee of the Israel Bond Organization, made the following comment: “The State of Israel, through the Israel Bond Organization, has registered its bonds with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States Government. In accordance with this registration, it is authorized to sell its bonds in all parts of the United States, including the city of Detroit. The dinner on March 1 is being held in Detroit to further the sale of State of Israel Bonds.”
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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.
