News Brief

policy the B’nai Brith is taking in the matter, as it is, of course, understood that no District of our movement can act sectionally in this important matter. Pending your decision we are withholding our reply to the invitation of the American Jewish Congress.’

“While, unfortunately, we have not heard directly from Palestine, Roumania and Turkey, a message in the Yiddish papers of July 23rd, from Bucharest reads as follows: ‘The B’nai Brith of Roumania has decided not to participate in the Jewish world conference. The invitation to send delegates was yesterday rejected for important reasons.’

“It appears from your letter that you have been in communication not only with District Grand Lodges, but even sections of the Districts as your quotation from the head of the Transylvanian section of the Roumanian B’nai Brith would indicate. This we deeply regret as abviously a decision on a matter of vital importance to the entire Order could not be arrived at by an outside body communicating with individual sections and sub-sections of the Organization,” the B’nai Brith communication concludes.

No comment on this communication was forthcoming from the offices of the American Jewish Congress since the heads of the organization are all abroad in connection with the conference sessions.

The July 29th issue of the “London Jewish Chronicle” which has just reached this country carries a letter from M. Gordon Liverman, head of the British B’nai Brith, in which he explains that the British Lodge favored participation in the world Jewish conference, but has declined the American Jewish Congress invitation to participate because of the opposition of the central headquarters of the Order. Mr. Liverman’s communication says:

“Some confusion appears to exist in regard to the attitude of the B’nai Brith in this country to the World Jewish Congress and I would be grateful if you would permit me to explain the position.

“At the meeting of the District Grand Lodge in London, whose procedings were reported in your issue of July 15th, a decision was taken in favor of participation, and the headquarters of our Movement were advised accordingly.

“It is obvious, however, that an international organization such as ours, on such a subject as a World Jewish Conference, one district cannot act alone.

“Having regard of the fact that our colleagues in America and on the Continent do not favor participation, our Order cannot be represented on this occasion and in these circumstances, we, in England, are unable to accept the invitation sent to us.”