England’s protection and America’s sympathy and economic assistance are needed for the development of a Jewish Palestine, Dr. Chaim Weizmann said last night, addressing a special session of the Assefath Hanivcharim, the Jewish National Assembly of Palestine, held in honor of his 70th birthday.
Earlier in the day, the executive of the Jewish Agency tendered a reception for Dr. Weizmann which was attended by the entire consular corps, high government officials, Jewish leaders and prominent people from all over the country. The special session of the Jewish National Assembly was held on the premises of the Hebrew University of which Dr. Weizmann was one of the founders.
Pointing out that Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin “are now remaking the coming world, not only their own countries,” Dr. Weizmann warned that the balance of the post-war world will be disturbed if the Jewish “account” is not met. “The world’s peace,” he stated, “is connected with that of Jerusalem. The world’s account will be unbalanced if ours is unjust.
“From Mount Scopus, facing holy Jerusalem, we send greetings to the great leaders, expressing the hope that within their and our days the vision of a world of peace and justice will be realized,” Dr. Weizmann continued. “We need in the first place England’s protection and help which is not achievable by hostility, but by persuasion and by the stressing of our positive achievements and potentialities. We also need America’s sympathy and economic assistance. America is the sole big country which can help the entire world.”
Calling on the Jews of the world not to despair, Dr. Weizmann told the Assembly. “We are now facing a decisive hour. The Jews in Palestine must appear united. This must also be the hour of mutual concessions. I am at your disposal.” He concluded by stating “we will bring all Jewish orphans from devastated Europe to Palestine to build up a free Palestine for every Jew and secure equality for every inhabitant, Jew and non-Jew.”
Moshe Shertok, chief of the political department of the Jewish Agency, lauded the pro-Zionist statements by American political leaders, and said that it was necessary to “find a path to the Soviet authorities” who, he added, are believed ready to re-examine their attitude towards Zionism.
Shertok stressed, however, that “the principal center of our decision still is England, were will have to struggle for a Jewish state in the whole of Palestine, which is a vital necessity for us.” The Jews, he continued, must secure a new agreement from England, and, therefore, every sign of enmity towards her is a “deadly poison.”
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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.
