Upa Conflict Must Be Settled by Dec.6, Conference of Jewish Federation Leaders Insists

Seeking to preserve unified fund raising in 1949, about 150 delegates to the seventh annual conference of the Central Atlantic Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, passed a resolution declaring that if efforts of the C.J.F.W.F. conciliation committee to achieve settlement of differences between the United Palestine Appeal and the Committee of Contributors and Workers are not successful by December 8, the C.J.F.W.F. should move immediately toward the “establishment of a National Jewish Welfare Fund under the auspices of the Jewish communities of America.”

Meeting in Atlantic City, this week-end, leaders from 37 communities urged the C.J.F.W.F. to continue negotiations with the two groups, but asked for implementation of a similar resolution passed by the 30 largest communities at a recent conference in Pittsburgh “in the event a mutually acceptable solution” cannot be reached.

Delegates also gave their attention to all phases of 1949 local and overseas responsibilities. Mapping plans to meet their responsibilities they passed resolutions on independent campaigns, displaced persons, and national-local relationships. Herbert R. Abeles, of Newark, was elected regional president, succeeding Bernard Alexander of Trenton.

Principal speakers were Harry Greenstein, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Welfare Fund; H.L. Lurie, C.J.F.W.F. executive director; Benjamin B. Rosenberg, director of C.J.F.W.F. field service; Morris Zelditch, director of C.J.F.W.F. social planning; and Raphael C. Pollock, assistant director of the C.J.F.W.F. Institute on Overseas Studies.

The resolution on the current U.P.A. difficulties commended the Council’s conciliation committee for its efforts to date in bringing the two groups together for negotiations.

URGES EXPLORING NEED FOR A NATIONAL JEWISH WELFARE BOARD TO AVOID CONFLICTS

“In order to assure maximum funds for the overseas agencies and for Israel, and in order to maintain the continued confidence of the American community in the valid needs of these programs,” the resolution concluded, “we urge the C.J.F.W.F. to set up a continuing committee which will explore the need for a National Jewish Welfare Fund under the auspices of the communities. We ask for such a committee in order to avoid future conflicts between national agencies which may impair local community efforts to raise maximum funds.”

The resolution on independent campaigns affirmed the action of the Pittsburgh conferees which termed “harmful,” those drives for food, materials or cash contributions of urgently required funds for Israel and overseas needs.” It called upon the U.J.A. to clear such campaigns with its beneficiaries as to whether they have endorsement and are worthy of support.

Referring to the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, another resolution called upon Congress to eliminate all discriminatory provisions regarding religion, occupation, and national origin. It urged that the “fatal cut-off date of Dec. 22, 1945,” be eliminated in keeping with the “traditionally liberal policies” of the United States in affording asylum to the oppressed and needy peoples” of other lands.

In the area of national agency-local community relationships, the delegates uged that national agencies clear with the C.J.F.W.F. “before initiating or subsidizing any projects or services which duplicate or precept local community operations of such services.”