Zionists, Non-zionists Urge Reconsideration of Congress Project

Well-known Zionist and non-Zionist leaders are the signers of a statement urging proponents of the World Jewish Congress, scheduled to open August 8 at Geneva, “to give further consideration to this project before this step is actually taken.”

Declaring the Congress “will create confusion and thus impede the important work of many existing organizations both here and abroad,” the statement voices the conviction of the signers that it would at this time “be productive of more harm than good.”

Among the signers of the statement are: Dr. A.A. Rongy, chairman of the National Council of the Zionist Organization of America, I. D. Morrison, prominent New York attorney and Zionist; and the following non-Zionists: Judge Edward Lazansky, E.I. Kaufman of Washington, James N. Rosenberg of the Joint Distribution Committee and others.

The statement follows in full:

“The undersigned American Jews, vitally interested in problems affecting Jewish life here and abroad, urge the proponents of a World Jewish Congress proposed to be held in Geneva this coming summer to give further consideration to this project before this step is actually taken. Such a step will create confusion and thus impede the important work of many existing organizations both here and abroad. We are convinced that the calling of such a Congress at this time will be productive of more harm than good.

“Such a meeting will not and cannot now truly represent Jews of the world. Jews of Germany and Russia will not participate. The majority of Jews in England and France decline to take part. In the United States the B’nai B’rith, American Jewish Committee, Free Sons of Israel, National Council of Jewish Women, and that portion of the people represented by the Jewish Labor Committee have united in opposing this movement. In Poland, the Bundists refuse participation. Many responsible Jews regard this movement as dangerous and ill-timed. In such circumstances, such a gathering purporting to represent Jews throughout the world will not in truth represent or express the views of large and responsible sections of Jewish people. Moreover, the holding of such a gathering, designated as a ‘World Jewish Congress’, will be seized upon by anti-Semitic forces here and abroad as a separatist movement. Thus Jews in this country will be accused of trying to introduce a doctrine contrary to that spirit of American democracy in which we firmly believe.”

In a personal letter to Mr. Rosenberg, B.C. Vladeck, chairman of the Jewish Labor Committee presents four reasons for opposition to the Congress:

First is that “many responsible Jewish bodies and individuals in America and the world over think that such a gathering will have ill effects. A Parliament which has no power and contents itself with passing resolutions may bring about very sad results.”

Second is that the proposed Congress “will have an agenda considering the troubles of Jews but not an agenda for the cures.”

Third, “it is the unanimous opinion of the Jewish Labor Committee that the Jews can nowhere regain and retain their rights without the help of organized labor and of the progressive public opinion in the non-Jewish world. A Jewish World Congress, in its very proposition, denies this principle, notwithstanding that officially its leaders do not deny this principle.”

Fourth, the “leaders of the World Congress movement must understand once and for all that they cannot conduct Jewish activities in the same manner as actors play their parts on the stage. If one show is a failure, they play in another show, parading under different masks. Because the Zionist element will appear under a new name, the situation will not be changed.”

Mr. Vladeck’s letter concludes with the statement that it is not an official declaration of the Jewish Labor Committee, but that he is expressing that body’s opinion.