Palestine Question Causes Sharp Clash in Amsterdam International Executive

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Jewish Socialists of the anti-Zionist kind were in sharp clash with pro-Zionist, non-Jewish labor leaders at the session here of the Executive Committee of the Amsterdam International, over the Palestine question. The proposal of Emile Vandervelde, Belgium Socialist statesman who recently returned from a visit to Palestine, that the International creates a special commission for Palestine affairs was the center of the storm. Action was blocked by the opposition of the Jewish socialists until a special conference of all Socialist leaders, which was called for Thursday, undertakes a thorough discussion of the matter.

The clash occurred between Arthur Henderson, president of the International, first British Labor member to receive cabinet rank, serving in the Coalition Government in 1915, and Fritz Adler, secretary. Mr. Adler said the Poale Zion, Zionist Socialists, are playing too prominent a part in the International compared with the other parties. Their independent actions are unconstitutional, introducing chaos and trouble into the Palestinian problem, he stated. Mr. Adler also criticised Socialist leaders who are aiding in the creation of a special Palestinian commission and asked whether the leaders can join a commission outside the scope of the International.

In the stormy debate which followed, Abramovich of Russia and Bauer of Austria, supported Adler.

President Henderson declared that they were justified in assisting in a commission organized by a section of the International and threatened to resign from the chairmanship of the International if this work were forbidden.

A special conference of all Socialist leaders is to be convened for Thursday by M. Vandervelde, Henderson and Leon Blum of France for a thorough discussion of the matter.

The question of anti-Semitism among Polish Socialist workers was raised by Joseph Kruk, Jewish Socialist leader of Poland. Citing the May Day collisions between Polish and Jewish demonstrators, he demanded that the International establish the unity of all nationalities in working Poland. Niedzelkowski, leader of the Polish Socialist Party. P.P.S. stated that they are striving to create closer relations with the Jewish Socialist Party Bund. In many towns the P.P.S. voted to assist the Jewish schools, he stated.

The Polish Jewish question was also raised in the special Polish commission. Otto Bauer and M. Grimm of Switzerland. Fenner Brockway of England and others supported the resolution for unity among Polish labor parties, which was carried with instruction for bringing the unity about.

Mrs. Edith Harris, mother of Dr. Lonie I. Harris. New York, Commissioner of Health died on Friday in Mount Sinai Hospital following a long illness. She was seventy-two.

Executive directors of Jewish Community Centers and Y. M. and Y. W. H. A’s in twenty eastern cities are participating in the second annual Institute in Jewish Center Work held under the joint auspices of the Training School for Jewish Social Work and the Jewish Welfare Board in the Federation Building, New York City.

Dr. David Snedden, professor of Education at Columbia University, delivered an address on “Social Foundations of Community Center Activities,” at the Monday morning session. Charles Nemser, executive director of the Y. M. and Y. W. H. A. of Philadelphia, spoke on “Factors Determining the Jewish Center Program.” The institute will continue until August 16.