An appeal to the League of Nations and to Great Britain to become mediators between Nazi Germany and the Jews to make possible transfer of an increased number of Jews from Germany to Palestine was voiced by Abraham Goldberg of New York, member of the Zionist Organization of America Executive, in the general debate at today’s session of the 19th biennial World Zionist Congress.
Speaking for the American delegation, Goldberg declared, “the only answer which the Jews should give Germany is to take 200,000 more German Jews to Palestine.”
He urged unity in Zionist ranks for the sake of saving German Jewry and to enable the settling of as many German Jews as possible in Palestine. He expressed the belief that a basis for understanding among Zionist factions could be found.
Discussing relations with Great Britain, the New Yorker asserted that the Jews will continue in their loyal attitude toward England but that they will at the same time insist on their rights.
“We have the right to demand of England,” he declared, ” free immigration into Palestine and into Transjordan.” These demands, he said, would be considered by British officials if Zionists could only reach a united front among themselves.
The creation of such a united front is possible, he asserted, and if the Congress does not find the way to unite the factions for at least two years, then it will be committing a great crime.
Zalman Rubashow of Palestine, vice-president of the World Zionist Actions Committee, speaking in behalf of the majority Laborite group, condemned land speculation in Palestine and asserted that Jewish capitalists in Palestine are not doing enough to combat speculation.
“Palestine must be a land of social justice,” he declared, “not of land speculators.”
Other speakers today were: Abraham Ha#zfield, Labor delegate; Dr. Schipper of Group A, the pro-labor General Zionist faction; Dr. Emil Schmorak of Poland and Joshua Supraski of Palestine, both adherents of Group B, the right-wing faction of the General Zionists.
Dr. Schmorak and Supraski emphasized that the present Zionist Executive is largely responsible for the present split in the Zionist movement. They declared for cooperation with Great Britain, but asserted that the present Executive cannot boast of any success in its foreign policy.
They also accused the Executive of doing nothing for Jewish capitalists and for members of the middle-class willing to settle on land and appealed for social justice and a peace satisfactory both to workers and others.
The Mizrachi, orthodox Zionist organization, continued its boycott of Congress proceedings begun at the opening of the sessions against the alleged failure of the Executive to meet its demands for enforcement of religious practices in Palestine.
The Mizrachi refused to participate in the steering committees of the congress comprising representatives of all groups which will negotiate the formation of a new coalition executive. The 65 Mizrachi delegates are also refraining from taking part in the general debate and have not accepted membership in the congress praesidium.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
