Firmly united in the face of the Arab menace in Palestine, the Zionist Organization of America closed its twenty-ninth annual convention today after electing Dr. Stephen S. Wise president, and voicing solidarity with the Jews in the Holy Land.
The program of reorganizing the Z.O.A. to place greater responsibility and authority upon regions, which was proposed by Morris Rothenberg — outgoing president and newly-elected chairman of the administrative committee — was not adopted.
The following resolutions were passed:
1- Conveying to the Palestine Jews “the sense of outrage against the forces arrayed to uproot them.” It pledged “unceasing and inflexible determination to supply moral and material support in the fullest measure until the goal of the Jewish national home is established securely and permanently.”
“We disavow vengeance, but we vow resistance,” the resolution declared, “We disclaim dispossession but claim restoration; we deny that Jewish resettlement of Palestine causes or aims at injustice to the Arab people, but we reaffirm with whole-souled conviction the justice of our aim to return to the land where Jews were and again will be free people for themselves.
“To the Yishub we say: we are strengthened by your strength. May you in turn be strengthened by ours.”
2- Recording “profound appreciation of the leadership of the World Zionist Executive, which has acted with dignity and vigor in presentation of the Jewish position in Palestine toward the Mandatory Power and toward public opinion.”
The resolution reaffirmed faith in Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, and endorsed his program of action.
3- Extending “heartfelt solicitation” to the World Jewish Congress and declaring “deepest loyalty to its aims and aspirations” in conformity with the resolution adopted by the Zionist Congress at Lucerne last Summer.
4- Exhorting Great Britain to “adhere to that spirit of goodwill and that desire for historic reparation to the Jewish people which animated the issuance of the Balfour Declaration.”
The Z.O.A. associated itself wholeheartedly with the twelve-point program adopted at the June meeting of the Palestine members of the World Zionist Organization Actions Committee.
Another resolution condemned the role of the Communists in the Palestine disorders. The Z.O.A. also reaffirmed its support of the anti-Nazi boycott.
CONTEST STRAUS AS VICE-PRESIDENT
A tempestuous half hour developed unexpectedly when the nominations committee, reporting Nathan Straus for reelection as one of vice presidents, met strenuous objections from several delegates, notably Dr. Samuel Margoshes.
Dr. Margoshes demanded Straus’ removal from the list on the ground he signed a cable to Dr. Weizmann demanding the resignation of Moshe Shertok as political chief of the Jewish Agency for allegedly making ultra-nationalistic speeches.
After a spirited defense by Rabbi Robert August, of Brooklyn, and Rabbi Irving Miller of Long Island, the convention voted to reelect Straus.
Vice presidents elected are: Max Shulman, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, Elihu Stone, Mr. Straus, Solomon Goldman, Joseph Kraemer, Dr. Israel Goldstein, Judge William Lewis, Prof. Gustav Klausner, the last four being new and the others reelected.
Officers of the Executive Committee are: Louis Lipsky, Abraham Goldberg, Louis Rocker, Samuel Markewich, Rabbi Edward Israel and Israel Levinthal.
An impassioned appeal in behalf of Palestine trees delivered by Rabbi Israel Levinthal evoked an emotional response. The entire convention was moved to tears. Special memorial services for trees were held, followed by spontaneous pledges which were expected to reach a total of twenty thousand trees. The pledges were made by various districts and individuals.
The resolutions committee reported a resolution for adoption which recommends proclamation of a nationwide campaign to enable the Keren Kayemeth to plant shortly 100,000 new trees to replace those destroyed by Arabs. The resolution described “the murder of trees one of most shocking acts of vandalism in a turbulent period of Eretz Israel.”
Another storm was precipitated when the nominations committee brought in the names of Robert Silverman and Ira Kahn for administrative committee membership. Silverman as co-director of the United Palestine Appeal and Kahn on the staff of the Bronx section of the appeal are not eligible under the terms of the “peace agreement” barring paid staff members from administrative boards. The names were brought in as a test case and rejected when the delegates overwhelmingly voted to uphold peace terms.
In addition, the convention elected two treasurers: Morris Weinberg of Brooklyn and Harry Fierst of Mt. Vernon.
Resolutions were adopted urging establishment of a publications committee with functions to coordinate the activities of the various publications; to create bureau archives and research and a comprehensive library of source and secondary materials; and to issue popular pamphlets and brochures on Zionism.
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