No Merger of Separate Identities of ZOA and Palestine Campaign Intended Explains Rothenberg

No merger of the individual identities of the Zionist Organization of America and the American Palestine Campaign is intended, declared Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America yesterday in a statement explaining the resolution adopted by the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization on Sunday.

A co-ordination of the technical staffs of both organizations, to place at each other’s disposal the facilities that might not be available to the other is the only plan which will be undertaken, Mr. Rothenberg said.

“This is in accordance with the proposal which I made at the Sunday meeting, which was concurred in by Louis Lipsky, Chairman of the American Palestine Campaign and ratified by the Committee.

“At this time, when the need for economy is so urgent, I am certain that there will be general approval of the proposal not to create new machinery that would involve large expenditures, but to make greater use of the existing technical and administrative equipment,” stated Mr. Rothenberg.

“The action taken by the Administrative Committee was not dictated solely by economy, however. There is a general recognition of the need for more intensive efforts today to win effective, concrete support for Jewish aims in Palestine. On the one hand, the Jew ish Agency for Palestine is facing a severe financial crisis, which can be solved only if the utmost support of American Jewry is sought and secured. The opportunities for growth and service of the Zionist Organization appear very encouraging. By taking advantage of these opportunities, a double purpose can be achieved. The Zionist movement, which is the backbone for the upbuilding of the Jewish National Home can be strengthened, and the resources for the maintenance of the Jewish Agency projects increased.

“At the present time, because of a lack of co-ordination, fund-raising activities and Zionist membership efforts needlessly conflict with each other. This reacts to the detriment of the Zionist Organization and the American Palestine Campaign as well which is the fund raising instrument of the Jewish Agency. It was for that reason that I urged a plan for an improvement in the situation and the appointment of a committee of the Zionist Organization to confer on the subject with the American Representatives of the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the American Palestine Campaign, whose consent is necessary for the adoption of any plan.

“It should be clearly understood that the plan outlined at the Administrative Committee meeting provided that the Zionist Organization of America and the American Palestine Campaign remain distinct and separate in their identity, with the same autonomy and authority which they have always enjoyed individually. Uneconomical duplication, friction and confusion in their activities however must be avoided. Such a step will be welcomed, I believe, by all forces interested in accelerating the upbuilding of Palestine,” he concluded.