Preparations for Opening of American Jewish Conference Completed; Program Announced

The headquarters of the American Jewish Conference today announced that the Conference will open Sunday afternoon, August 29 and will conclude on Thursday, September 2. The principal speakers at the opening session will be Henry Monsky and Dr. Stephen S. Wise.

At the opening session, a recommendation will be made for the election of a General Committee of 50 to 55 members to serve as a Committee on committees, rules, procedure and coordination throughout the sessions. Further recommendations will include election of a praesidium of 14 members, of which 10 are to be named by the various groups at the Conference on the basis of 1 member in the praesidium for every 50 delegates, and 4 members at large.

In order to assure that all the committees which are to be elected for the consideration of the various issues of the Conference shall adequately represent the membership of the Conference, a system of proportionate representation will be recommended. Delegates will be given an opportunity to designate their affiliations with any of the existing groups or with groups that may be formed or to state that “designation is reserved.”

“The fear expressed in some sections of the press that the American Jewish Conference will devote its deliberations and interest entirely to post-war problems and will disregard the immediate rescue program is shown to be completely unjustified, as a result of the proposed appointment of a special committee, consisting of from 35 to 50 members, which will consider all problems related to rendering immediate help and rescue to the European Jews, “the announcement said.

The executive has decided to extend to the accredited representatives of Canadian, Central and South American Jewry an invitation to attend the Conference as guests.