George Halperin, well-known Zionist leader and a director of the Anglo-Palestine Bank, conducted the negotiations with the Nazi Land Trade League for the purchase of German goods by Palestinians in exchange for the opening of the German market to Palestinian citrus products, Herr Kintz, director of the fruit department of the Nazi commercial organization, revealed here.
Kintz declared that the last conversations on the agreement had taken place two weeks ago and that in addition to Halperin, representatives of the Palestinian cooperatives, Hachaklay, Benzvia and Topaz, were present.
The negotiations will be continued in Tel Aviv-with the representatives of the Trade League who are now on their way to Palestine.
In accordance with the agreement,
ORANGE BARTER IS SINGLED OUT FOR SPECIAL ATTACK AT PRAGUE; OFFICIALS DISCLAIM CONNECTION
The reported agreements with Germany occupied the center of interest today both at the closed session of the political commission of the Eighteenth World Zionist Congress and the morning session of the Council of the Jewish Agency.
At the meeting of the political commission, the orange deal was particularly criticized. It was pointed out that while the three-million-mark deal may have some justification, since it enables emigrants to take money out of Germany, the agreement on the shipment of oranges to Germany in return for the purchase of German goods, is positively harmful and against the interests of the Jewish world.
A ### deals was dema### of the Council ### by Professor Herbert ### Belgium, who is presiding in the ###sence of D’Avigdor Goldsmid, of England. Professor Speyer turned the chair over to Robert Szold, American delegate, and demanded full details of the two deals.
Berl Locker, Laborite member of the Executive, speaking for the Zionist Executive, repeated the statement previously made in the Congress, that the Executive had no connection with the deals. Locker declined to furnish any details to the open session of the Agency meeting. A committee of five was appointed to whom the full story of the deal will be reported this afternoon.
The resolution on Germany adopted by the Eighteenth World Zionist Congress was also bitterly criticized at the meeting of the Council of the Jewish Agency, by Professor Speyer.
Professor Speyer’s speech was particularly critical of that part of the resolution which stated that Palestine was the only solution for the problem of the German Jews. He declared that Palestine was a solution but not the only one, calling attention to countries like Great Britain, France, United States, Czechoslovakia and similar countries where Jews enjoy de facto and de jure equal rights.
The Council of the Jewsh Agency is composed of both Zionists and non-Zionists, each group having fifty percent of the membership. The Jewish Agency is the official Jewish institution in regard to Palestine ###nd is so recognized both by the League of Nations and the mandatory power, Great Britain.
The German resolution adopted by the Congress received an enormous amount of criticism. The Nazis denounced it as an unwarranted interferece in internal German affairs. The Revisionists denounced the resolution because it was too mild for them. Advocates of the anti-German boycott denounced it as a betrayal of the boycott.
The decision of the presidium that the Congress must wind up all unfinished business at the Saturday night session means that the various Congress committees must work intensively today whipping all matters still in abeyance into shape for presentation to the Congress for final decision.
The biggest problem that faces any committee is the negotiations now going on between the various fractions in the Congress on the formation of the new executive to direct the World Zionist Organization for the next two years. The re-election of the veteran Zionist leader, Nahum Sokolow, to the presidency of the World Zionist Organization is practically certain, Dr. Chaim Weizmann having eliminated himself from the field. Dr. Sokolow, in his candidate’s speech, made a strong bid for the support of the Laborites, the strongest single group in the Congress, and is favored by the anti-Weizmann delegates.
The exclusion of the Revisionists (extreme right wing Zionists) from the Zionist executive also seems certain.
The final session of the Congress will continue until all resolutions are disposed of and the new executive elected. Many of the delegates are anxious to proceed to Geneva to attend the meeting of the world Jewish congress summoned by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of New York, and European Jewish leaders.
LAND ORDINANCE CRITICIZED
The land ordinance enacted by the Palestine Government yesterday creating a “statutory tenant” class was criticized by Professor Selig Brodetzky, British member of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, addressing the sessions of the council yesterday.
The ordinance, Professor Brodetzky asserted, will have a “freezing effect” on Jewish agricutural development. The French Report on the development of Palestine he characterized as “a matter of fact.”
He declared that the British answer declining Imperial preference to Palestine need not be considered as the final answer on the subject.
Professor Brodetzky disclosed that Zionists have inaugurated conversations with Arab leaders in Syria for the extension of Jewish colonization. He said that the Zionist leaders hope to continue similar negotiations with Arab leaders in all the countries neighboring Palestine.
Referring briefly to the German situation, Professor Brodetzky declared it has made all the governments, including the Mandatory Power (Great Britain) see that the solution to the Jewish problem must come from Palestine.
A touching tribute to Professor Theodor Lessing, famous German-Jewish philosopher, who was assassinated yesterday morning at his villa in Marienbad, was offered by Nahum Sokolow, president of the Jewish Agency.
He deplored the death of Professor Lessing as that of a man who had just returned to Zionism.
Referring to the German situation, Dr. Sokolow made an energetic appeal for unity of Zionists and non-Zionists in combatting German persecution. The differences between Zionists and non-Zionists disappear in connection with Germany, he declared.
“The German situation is dangerous for Jews all over the world,” he pointed out and urged that the Jewish Agency, as the only internationally recognized Jewish institution, should treat the German problem on an international scale.
Strong opposition to any attempts to modify the structure of the Jewish Agency by reducing the non-Zionist membership proportion was seen here yesterday. All factions in the Zionist Congress are agreed that the present composition of the Agency, half Zionist and half non-Zionist, must be changed. Any attempts at reduction in the form of Congress activity, may result in the beginning of the end of the Agency.
The matter of reform of the Agency is in the hands of a committee of five Zionists and five non-Zionists. The committee made it clear today that it would not accede to any alteration in the present Agency composition.
Maurice Hexter, of New York, delivered a report on Palestine colonization and settlement. Neville Laski, British non-Zionist member, also spoke.
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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.
