Weisman said that he was willing to accept Montor as one of the three executive vice-chairmen who were to be appointed respectively by the U.P.A., the Joint Distribution Committee end Morgenthau under an agreement reached unanimously on Friday by the seven-man conciliation body in which all groups participating in the U.P.A. were represented, However, Weisman emphasized that he is opposed to giving Montor top authority under Morgenthau, who is to lead the U.J.A. drive.
A meeting of the board of directors of the U.P.A., scheduled to take place tomorrow, is expected to reach a final decision on the U.P.A. situation. The seven-man conciliation Committee on Unity will report to the board its unanimous decision reached on Friday under which it was agreed that Morgenthau, as head of the U.J.A., is given the authority to “define the duties and functions” of each of the three executive vice -chairmen of the U.J.A.
JEWISH AGENCY FILES INCORPORATION PAPERS FOR FUND-RAISING
Prepared for any eventuality, the Jewish Agency executive has filed in Albany papers of incorporation permitting it to exercise all of the functions now carried on by the U.P.A. It was hinted today that if the U,P,A, conflict is not settled within the next few days, the Jewish Agency executive may, together with the Jewish National Fund and the J.D.C., start a partnership campaign, with the Jewish Agency supplanting the United Palestine Appeal.
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver issued a statement last night declaring that he has not authorized the use of his name as one of the directors of the Jewish Agency corporation, although his name appeared on the papers filed in Albany. He emphasized that he resigned from the Jewish Agency executive on Fob. 16 and warned that the action of the Agency in incorporating in New York State “will further exacerbate the unfortunate controversy and will increase the hurt to the United Jewish Appeal campaign. “It is an ill-advised move on the part of the executive of the Jewish Agency which is aimed to side-step the legally-constituted Zionist agencies in the United States,” Dr. Silver said in his statement. “It is an unwarranted threat to their existence and might bring about the disintegration of the Zionist movement in the United States.”
Weisman similarly criticized the incorporation of the Jewish Agency as a fundraising organization in this country. He asserted in a statement that the move will prejudice the success of the U.J.A. campaign. Weisman also made public the text of a telegram which he sent yesterday to Morgenthau in which ho declared that he was not in a “position to bind the U.P.A.”
“It is my opinion that for you as general chairman to request Mr. Montor to direct the 1949 United Jewish Appeal campaign is not in the best interests of this campaign,” Weisman’s telegram said. “It is at variance with the intent of United Palestine Appeal executive committee resolution of Feb. 22 and with the report of the U.P.A, Committee on Unity which unanimously agreed on a formula to reconcile the unanimously approved agreement in the Jewish Agency to have three executive vice-chairmen of equal rank.
“Attention is invited to the provision in the resolution that the general chairman la to counsel and advise with the national chairmen and executive vice-chairmen and with the executive vice-^chairman to initiate and to do whatever may be desirable or necessary to effectuate plans, purposes and policies. Mutual cooperation by all officers and staff of U.J.A, for fulfillment of this provision to which U.P.A. representatives are prepared to commit themselves should result in harmonious conduct and management of the campaign.
“In view of these facts and because I am not able to approve your contemplated action to request Mr. Montor to direct the campaign, I shall personally advise the U.P.A. board members to take such action as will uphold the decisions of the executive committee and the Committee on Unity and will fix full responsibility upon the Jewish Agency and yourself for the consequences of the plan which you persist in putting into effect,” the wire said.
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