Morgenthau Accepts U.J.A. Leadership; Appoints Montor; Calls for Jewish Unity

Henry Morgenthau, Jr., today announced his acceptance of the invitation to serve as general chairman of the 1949 campaign of the United Jewish Appeal which was extended to him “by leaders of the Jewish Agency, Joint distribution Committee, United Palestine Appeal and the United Service for New Americans Morgenthau also announced that he had named Henry Montor to conduct the nationwide fide campaign under his leadership.

The announcement was made after the “board of directors of the United Palestine Appeal last night accepted a decision of the Jewish Agency executive calling for the return of Morgenthau to the helm of the U.J.A. drive, and Henry Montor to executive directorship of the drive. The vote at the U.P.A. board meeting was 52 in favor of accepting the decision and 30 attentions. The abstainees were supporters of Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, who recently resigned from the Agency executive, in protest against its decision on the U.J.A.

Judge Morris Rothenberg, national chairman of the Jewish National Fund of America, was named acting national chairman of the U.P.A., by the board of directors, succeeding Herman L. Waismen. After his appointment, Judge Rothenberg issued a plea to both sides to put aside all animosity and work for the U.J.A. campaign.

CONTROVERSY OVER U.J.A. ADMINISTRATION ENDED

Morgenthau’s announcement of his acceptance of the U.J.A. general chairmanship brought to a conclusion the controversy over the administration of the U.J.A. which lasted several months. He paid tribute to Montor as “an executive of extraordinary ability” and as “the best fund-raiser for Israel and the other causes represented in the U.J.A.” He pledged all his energies to the success of the 1949 campaign and called upon all elements in the Jewish population to “go forward in a spirit of “unity.”

Dr. Silver issued a statement reaffirming his objections to Montor and emphasizing his opposition to “the unwarranted intervention” of the Jewish Agency executive “in the internal administrative affairs of an autonomous Zionist body such as the United Palestine Appeal.” Declaring that he was “astounded” to read in the Press that the Jewish Agency had signed an agreement with the other beneficiaries of the U.P.A. prior to last night’s meeting of the U.P.A. board of directors, Dr. Silver said:

“Because we were thus confronted with a lamentable fait accompli we had no other recourse than to advise our friends to refrain from voting at the board meeting. We did not wish further to prolong the controversy; on the other hand, we could not approve the action which was taken. We wish it clearly understood that those who have demanded absolute control over the campaign and those of the executive of the Jewish Agency who capitulated to such demands, must now assume full responsibility for the campaign,”