Stephen Wise Not Aligned with American Zionist Opposition, Writer Says

That the recent resignation of Dr. Stephen S. Wise from the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization of America has been misinterpreted, is suggsted by Joseph Salmark, of the Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, writing in the current issue of the “American Jewish World” of Minneapolis.

Mr. Salmark declares in his article “Behind the Zionst Controversy: The Truth About Stephen Wise,” that an attempt is being made to link Dr. Wise’s name with the present opposition to Louis Lipsky, president to the Zionist Organization of America, and finds the attempt unfounded in fact. Commending Dr. Wise for his stand in opposition to Dr. Weizmann, Mr. Salmark asserts that the reason Dr. Wise resigned at the time he did was because he did not want to involve Mr. Lipsky.

“The great Jewish leader,” says the writer “does not at all intend to involve the leadership of Louis Lipsky in his opposition to Weizmann and has therefore decided to fight his battle against Weizmann’s policy as an unattached person, who does not have to submit to party discipline. I believe that this is the basis of Dr. Wise’s act, and it is sheer chicanery for any one to assert that Dr. Wise has joined the ranks of Louis Lipsky’ opponents.

“It would seem to the average Jew that no one would be foolhardy enough to attack Louis Lipsky on a personal basis, as is now being done by some reckless individuals. For thirty years Lipsky’s position in Jewish life has been unimpeachable and impregnable. He has devoted himself to Jewish life at a great sacrifice, for no doubt his decision to throw himself wholeheartedly into the Zionist movement has lost him a strong place in American letters.

“Dr. Wise resigned because he does not wish to embarrass Louis Lipsky, who has backed him in practically all his policies, but who cannot follow Wise in his opposition to Dr. Weizmann.

“Dr. Wise cannot be accused of having acted unfairly. As an honest man, and as a friend of the American Zionist leadership, he had to resign, and Lipsky had to accept his resignation with sincere regret.

“One can only take off one’s hat to the integrity and clarity of Dr. Wise’s stand. He wants an aggressive political attitude towards England in regard to Jewish Palestine. He does not want to involve the Zionist Organization of America in this issue, because he knows that the latter is bound as an official body by the last Zionist Congress decision to support Weizmann. Dr. Wise has stated his views in the issue clearly,” Mr. Salmark writes.