Majority for Jewish Agency Pact Ratification Certain; Zionist Parties Divided on Other Issues

The final ratification of the pact between the Zionists and non-Zionists, under the principal leadership of the American non-Zionist group, for the creation of a joint Jewish Agency for Palestine, as provided in the Mandate of the League of Nations, the major point on the agenda of the 16th Biennial Zionist Congress, will have an overwhelming majority, among the 250 delegates who arrived here to attend the sessions.

An early canvass of opinions among the delegations of the various countries shows a general concurrence in the plan. No unity, however, exists between the various parties concerning the other issues which are to be determined upon by the Zionist legislative body. These issues involve primarily the determination of the policy in regard to the Hebrew educational system in Palestine, the fixing of the budget for the Palestine work during the next two years, and the composition of the Executive Committee which carries out the resolutions of the Congress. Contrary to the situation at previous Congresses, the present session finds the center group in a greatly weakened position, numerically. The Laborites, holding 85 votes, the Mizrachists, Orthodox Zionists, 45 votes, and the Zionist-Revisionists, together with the Radical Zionists, extreme opposition groups, 30 votes, are preparing for a strenuous political fight to gain concessions in favor of the policies they advocate.

Various combinations for the creation of blocs on separate issues are being negotiated between the various groups. The Labor delegates are making a special attempt to muster as much political strength as possible, in view of the new situation which is expected to arise in the Zionist movement following the consummation of the extended Jewish Agency, with the participation of the prominent group of American non-Zionists. The Laborites fear the adoption of an anti-labor policy by that body.

The Mizrachists, the Orthodox Zionists, are concentrating on the issue of the Palestine schools. Their organization has developed in Palestine a religious school system which is maintained by the Zionist funds under direction of the Mizrachi organization. They contend that these religious schools are in danger of an attack by the secular Zionists, in Palestine, and therefore strive to secure from the Congress a definite appropriation from Zionist funds for the autonomous maintenance of these schools.

The substitution of the present non-partisan Executive Committee by a coalition executive, comprising representatives of the General Zionists, the Laborites and the Orthodox Zionists, is another question which occupies the party leaders as the Congress goes into session on Sunday, when the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Theodor Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization, occurs.

FIRST TEST OF STRENGTH AT ACTIONS MEETING

The first test of strength occurred at Friday’s session of the Zionist General Council, which adjourned without reaching an agreement on the personnel of the praesidium and the chairmanship of the various committees.

Disagreement on the question of the Palestine budget, proposed by the Zi (Continued on Page 3)

Another meeting of the General Zionist Council will be held on Sunday. At this meeting the question will also be decided as to whether or not the Zionist delegates to the extended Jewish Agency Council are to be bound by the decisions of the Congress in the deliberations of the Council, that is, whether they are to vote as a bloc or individually.

Various proposals are being discussed concerning the creation of a new Executive. One group urges a coalition between the Laborites and the General Zionists, without the participation of the Mizrachi. Another group of leaders desires an agreement between the various parties on a minimum program, in which case the Laborites, the General Zionists and the Mizrachists may compose the new governing body.

RABBI BERLIN STATES MIZRACHI POSITION

Rabbi Meyer Berlin, formerly of New York, international head of the Mizrachi Organization, in an interview with the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, outlined the position of his party. Education, the budget for religious work and colonization of Mizrachi settlers, as well as the composition of the new Executive, are the three issues in which his party is interested. In the matter of education, the Mizrachi will continue to insist on its autonomy in regard to the internal arrangements of the religious schools. In this respect, he stated, the Mizrachi is encountering great difficulties with the Zionist Executive in Jerusalem, which is attempting to inject a political coloring into the school question, and even utilizes the Palestine Government in the fight against the Mizrachi school system.

Concerning the question of the budget, the Mizrachi will, it seems, be compelled to develop its own fund, the Keren Eretz Israel, since the Palestine Foundation Fund will find itself unable to entirely satisfy the budget for religious work and the Mizrachi colonization budget.

Regarding the composition of the new Executive, the Mizrachi leader stated that he finds it unthinkable that religious Jewry should remain without influence. He believes that no Zionist work can be successful without the participation of all parties.