Roosevelt Says His Position on Zionism Unchanged; Reiterates Support of Commonwealth

President Roosevelt said today that his position on Zionism is unchanged from that which he outlined in a message to the convention of the Zionist Organization of America last October, in which he favored unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization in Palestine, and a policy which would result in the establishment of a Jewish Commonwealth there.

The President authorized Dr. Stephen S. Wise, to issue in his name the following statement: “I made my position on Zionism clear in October. That position I have not changed and shall continue to seek to bring about its earliest realization,” The statement was initialed by Mr. Roosevelt.

Dr. Wise, who was received by the President in his capacity as chairman of the American Zionist Emergency Council, spent three-quarters of an hour with him discussing various questions concerning Palestine. Hayim Greenberg, chairman of the administrative committee of the Council and Herman Shulman, chairman of its economic committee, who arrived here from New York with Dr. Wise, told the press that “the President’s statement speaks for itself” and that further comment will have to wait “until consideration of Dr. Wise’s report by the executive of the Zionist Emergency Council.”

The statement to which Mr. Roosevelt referred today was made by him on October 15, in a message to the 47th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America held in Atlantic City. Addressed to Senator Robert Wagner, it read as follows

“Knowing that you are to attend the 47th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America, I ask you to convey to the delegates assembled my most cordial greetings. Please express my satisfaction that in accord with traditional American policy, and in keeping with the spirit of the Four Freedoms, the Democratic Party at its July convention this year included the following plank in its platform: “We favor the opening of Palestine to unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization, and such a policy as to result in the establishment there of a free and democratic Jewish Commonwealth.”

“Efforts will be made to find appropriate ways and means of effectuating this policy as soon as practicable. I know how long and ardently the Jewish people have worked and prayed for the establishment of Palestine as a free and democratic Jewish Commonwealth. I am convinced that the American people give their support to this aim; and if re-elected I shall help to bring about this realization.”