The delegates of the Zionist Organization of America to the meeting of the Greater Actions Committee of the World Zionist Organization in Berlin, August 24, and the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Agency, August 29, are sailing today without Dr. Stephen S. Wise who found himself unable to take the trip. Judge Julian W. Mack and Louis Lipsky will depart on the Majestic. Jacob Fishman is sailing on the Milwaukee. The other delegates are Judge William M. Lewis, of Philadelphia; Elihu D. Stone, of Boston; Abraham Goldberg, Dr. A. Coralnik and Morris Rothenberg of New York.
A farewell meeting was held for the delegation Wednesday evening at the Hotel Pennsylvania by the Zionist Organization, at which Robert Szold, chairman of the Zionist Administration, presided. More than a thousand were present.
Although the meeting was scheduled as one for discussion at which the membership of the organization could inform the delegation as to its views, the program was restricted to speeches by Robert Szold, Judge Mack, Dr. Wise, Mr. Lipsky, Dr. Coralnik and Mr. Goldberg.
FOUR PROBLEMS DEMAND ATTENTION
The four problems demanding attention at the Berlin meetings, Mr. Lipsky declared, are the means of “establishing cordial cooperation between the resident Arabs and the Jews in Palestine without surrender and concession of our vital principles;” the question of whether or not Great Britain should retain the mandate, the future of the Jewish Agency and the means of making it a vital force in the upbuilding of Palestine, and how to maintain the integrity and autonomy of the Zionist Organization, improving and increasing its activities.
Discussing British policy, Mr. Lipsky declared, “By a process of adverse administrative decisions, intimidated by Arab threats, fearful of its own position in India, building up an array of contrived pretensions to rights claimed on behalf of Arabs, the Mandatory Government now seems to be definitely committed to a limitation of Jewish rights, affecting the very heart of the Jewish national endeavor. The Mandatory Government is moving in the direction of the curtailment of the right of Jews to settle in in Palestine and of their right to acquire land through purchase.
“In effect, the present Labor Government, in spite of its declared intention to observe the letter and the spirit of the Mandate, has passed, by gradual stages, to the acceptance of what is virtually the annulment of the terms of the Mandate.”
HOPES FOR REALIZATION OF EXPECTATIONS
A somewhat different view was offered by Judge Mack who affirmed that “we hope soon to see our expectations realized without any change in the Mandatory power.”
He declared his part in the coming deliberations would be “to listen and to learn instead of to preach or to instruct.”
He also emphasized the need of cooperation with the Arab population “without abatement of our aims or ideals” and the necessity of Jews in America continuing to support “with men and with money as well as through contributions of thought and of goodwill” the Jews of Palestine.
Congratulating the meeting on the reconciliation of the different groups within the American Zionist movement and the assumption of leadership by Brandeis, Mack and Szold, Dr. Wise declared, “The united front means very much more than the reconciliation of differing personalities. Our united front means that there shall be no further whittling away of the Mandate, that as a people, we shall not stake all upon the opinion, well or ill-advised, of an expert individual or an inept Commission. No expert is far-seeing enough to prescribe or limit the measure of Jewish hope and Jewish potency.”
Speaking of the Berlin meetings, Dr. Wise said: “Whoever is to represent us at the Berlin meetings of the Executive of the World Zionist organization and the Jewish Agency meetings go there not with an American point of view but with a Zionist point of view. We are not to dominate because we possess the funds; neither must we be ignored ideologically as if we had nothing but funds to contribute. It is not to be assumed that men cannot think and lead as Zionists because they reveal powers of thinking and leading outside of Zionism.”
SZOLD CALLS FOR RENEWED ACTIVITY
Renewed activity on the part of American Zionists was called for by Mr. Szold who stressed the need of strengthening the organization and extending its influence. Public opinion, he declared, must be made aware of the real situation in Palestine and America must be reacquainted with the aims of the Jewish Palestine. In paying tribute to Justice Brandeis he declared: “We find almost daily evidence of his capacity for planning, the loftiness of his aims and ideals, the inspirational driving force of his determination. We hope that the Jews of America will respond to the unity that has been created in American Zionism with a fervor and devotion that will place the Zionist Organization on an increasingly high pinnacle of influence and make it an ever more important factor in the upbuilding of Palestine as the Jewish National Home.”
Gedaliah Bublick, president of the American Mizrachi, and Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, member of the world executive of the Mizrachi, sailed yesterday on the S. S. Columbus to attend the meeting of the Greater Actions Committee of the World Zionist Organization.
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