Z.O.A. Leaders Warn Morgenthau They Will Not Accept Montor in United Jewish Appeal

A statement declaring” that “the overwhelming majority of American Zionists reject and will never accept” a condition by Henry Morgenthau, Jr., which would provide for the re-employment of Henry Montor in the United Jewish Appeal, was issued here last night under the signatures of Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, Dr. Emanuel Neumann and a number of other leaders of the United Palestine Appeal. The statement, issued in connection with a drive to have Mr. Morgenthau retain the general chairmanship of the United Jewish Appeal for 1949, reads:

“A movement has evidently been launched to draft Mr. Henry Morgenthau, Jr., as general chairman of the U.J.A. for 1949. What has not been revealed, however, is the intention to re-employ Henry Montor, formerly executive director of the U.P.A. and one of the executive vice-chairmen of the United Jewish Appeal, over the vehement opposition of American Zionists and the United Palestine Appeal. It is reliably reported that Mr. Morgenthau would be willing to assume the general chairmanship of the U.J.A. only under certain conditions set by him, including the re-employment of Mr. Montor. This is a condition which the overwhelming majority of American Zionists reject and will never accept, in view of the wrecking job which Mr. Montor has done during the past few months and the pernicious tendencies he represents.

“The Zionist leadership has, in recent weeks, gone to the greatest lengths to reach an agreement with the minority group known as the Committee of Contributors and Workers, and most far-reaching concessions were made in order to ensure peace and cooperation in the U.P.A. and U.J.A. An accord was reached and its terms made public. It was agreed from the beginning that the re-employment of Mr. Montor was not and would not be made an issue, and it was generally understood that he has made another connection. But this issue which has been considered closed is now being re-opened under the guise of a ‘Draft Morgenthau’ movement which is in effect also a ‘Draft Montor’ movement.

“The leaders of the U.P.A. have repeatedly urged Mr. Morgenthau to serve again and this invitation has had unanimous and universal support. But no man, however important and valuable his services, should attempt to set conditions wholly unacceptable to a large segment of the community. Much less should anyone attempt to impose an official who has been repudiated and dispensed with for disloyal conduct toward the organization which employed him. Mr. Montor’s return in a key position would inevitably plunge the U.J.A. into a most bitter internecine conflict.

“The Zionists of America are proud of their achievements on behalf of the establishment of the State of Israel and of the services they have rendered as an organized movement to the U.J.A. They are determined to continue to play their part and to make their maximum contribution for the good of the Jewish people and for the benefit of Israel. They will neither be brow-beaten nor intimidated nor swept aside as a major factor in this work, which is so largely their responsibility.

“We would deeply deplore it if Mr. Morgenthau, for whom we have entertained the highest regard and the greatest respect, should lend himself to the machinations of a handful, avid for power and ruthlessly determined to have their way at all costs We feel that the integrity and the very future of the Zionist movement is at stake and are resolved to do everything in our power to prevent the imposition of a dictatorship run by a reckless and unscrupulous official, under whatever facade he may plan to operate. Ours is a great democratic movement, representing the Jewish masses in this country. In the interest of the cause, and the future of Israel, the position and prerogatives of the movement must and shall be maintained.”