Majority of Speakers in Favor of Agreement Adjusting Differences; Diehards Continue Opposition in Addresses; Wise Asks Delay of Action Pending His Arrival (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A majority of the spokesmen for the various Zionist parties and factions represented in the Zionist General Council in session here, expressed themselves in favor of adopting the Marshall-Weizmann agreement aiming to adjust the differences between the Zionists and non-Zionists brought about by the reservations of the Zionist legislative body.
Hailing the Jewish Agency pact as a symbol of Jewish unity and as laying the foundation for a real Kenesseth Israel, Dr. Weizmann urged the members of the General Council to agree to the convening of the Zionist Congress in July 1929, so that the Council of the Jewish Agency may be called into existence soon thereafter. Speedy action is important not only to increase the funds for the Palestine rebuilding work, but also to hasten the consummation of Jewish unity. The Zionist Organization will remain in the future, as it was in the past, the driving power in the Palestine movement, Dr. Weizmann stated.
He was followed by Nahum Sokolow, Chairman of the Zionist Executive, who likewise urged the adoption of the submitted agreement.
A majority of the speakers who participated in the discussion which was declared open and which continued Thursday evening until late Friday afternoon were in favor of adoption. An exception were the voices of Deputy Isaac Gruenbaum of Warsaw, leader of the oppositional Al Hamishmar group, Meer Grossman and Richard Litchtheim, representing the Zionist Revisionists, and Dr. Soloweitschik.
A telegram received from Dr. Stephen S. Wise who sailed from New York last Friday on the steamer Berengaria to attend the sessions, it was stated, urged the chairman to postpone action on Dr. Weizmann’s report pending his arrival in Berlin.
The arguments voiced in the discussion were similar to those heard on previous occasions when the Agency, a subject of debate for the past five years in Zionist councils, was under consideration.
Meer Grossman, Revisionist, interpellated Dr. Weizmann on whether or not the British Government has demanded the extension of the Jewish Agency, to which Dr. Weizmann replied in the negative.
Deputy Gruenbaum speaking against the report, asserted that the opposition has “forced the non-Zionists to concessions.” He demanded that if the extension of the Jewish Agency is unavoidable, it should at least be postponed until complete guarantees are secured. “The non-Zionists need us because their conception of Jewish life has proven to be bankrupt,” he exclaimed, urging the members of the General Council not to vote in favor of the agreement adjusting the reservations. Before any action is taken it is necessary, he urged, to secure the assurance of the British Government that in case of a dissolution of the enlarged Agency, the Zionist Organization is to return to its previous rights and privileges.
Other members who participated in the discussion were Leon Lewite, Warsaw; Dr. Rubaschow, Palestine, Laborite; Mr. Naiditch, Paris; Dr. Leon Reich, Lemberg; Mr. Baray, Poale Zion, Rabbi Meyer Berlin, president of the Mizrachi, Jerusalem. Rabbi Berlin congratulated Dr. Weizmann, declaring that “he has achieved more than was expected.” Kurt Blumenfeld, Berlin, likewise urged the adoption of the report.
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