Upon his arrival in New York on the steamer Ile de France late Tuesday night, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization; reiterated his confidence in the outcome of the Non-Zionist Conference on Palestine convoked by Mr. Louis Marshall for October 20, which he will address.
When asked by the representative of the Jewish Daily Bulletin concerning Lord Melchett’s statements on the Jewish Agency, Dr. Weizmann admitted that he was aware of the publication of these statements, but added that he was not surprised. “It is true Lord Melchett has not yet been invited to join the Jewish Agency,” the Zionist leader said, adding that he will confer with Melchett on the subject during his stay in New York.
Commenting on Lord Melchett’s opinion that the Agency must confine itself to diplomatic work. Dr. Weizmann stated: “It is impossible. Diplomatic work in connection with Palestine must be carried out by one person. If one joins the Agency, one must undertake the entire work. The Agency must become the apparatus for all parts of the work which leads to the reconstruction of Palestine as the Jewish National Home. It is interesting that Lord Melchett’s view is just the opposite of what is being demanded by the various oppositional groups, including the Jabotinsky group. These groups are opposed to the Agency just because of their unwillinguess to intrust the political work of the Zionist movement to non-Zionist elements and insist, therefore, that the Agency must confine itself to economic work.”
The results of the Non-Zionist Conference will be acted upon by the General Council of the Zionist Organization which will meet in Berlin on or about December 10, when the final word concerning the Jewish Agency will be said.
Questioned with regard to the Wailing Wall incident, the Zionist leader stated that it was a painful event and that he had protested to the League of Nations and to the British Government. “I am of the opinion that a change in the Wailing Wall question must be brought about during this year,” he declared.
When asked what he thinks of the Zionist Opposition in the United States. Dr. Weizmann replied, “Nothing.”
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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.
