ZOA Convention Wants Jewish Agency and American Zionists to Merge Activities in U.S.

Creation without delay of “an authoritative over-all body” to conduct “the political effort on behalf of Zionism in the United States” was recommended by the convention of the Zionist Organization of America in a resolution adopted today. It pointed out that such a body must be constituted “with due regard for both the interests of the Jewish Agency and the vital and indispensable role which must be played by the American Zionist organization.”

The delegates expressed the ZOA’s thanks to President Truman for urging the admittance of 100,000 Jews to Palestine and called on both Mr. Truman and Secretary of State Byrnes to “take all appropriate measures to the ends that the objective of American policy in reference to Palestine be accomplished.”

Declaring that the “Yishuv must be the decisive factor in determining the extent of resistance to the illegal policies of the British Government,” the convention said that “insofar as the responsible elements of the Yishuv embark upon policies of non-cooperation or resistance, they shall receive wholehearted support of the Zionist movement.”

Another resolution supported the efforts of the Palestine Jewish community in aiding the persecuted Jews of Europe to enter Palestine, and hailed the attempts by the DP’s to reach Palestine despite the obstacles placed in their way.

REITERATES INVITATION TO ZIONIST CONGRESS TO MEET IN U.S.

The convention expressed regret that the World Zionist Congress has been postponed several times, and reiterated the ZOA’s suggestion that the Congress be held in the United States.

Taking cognizance of the possibility that proposals may be made to reconstitute the Jewish Agency to provide for the active participation of non-Zionist elements, the delegates suggested that “any steps toward reconstitution be closely guided by the experience of previous attempts to achieve the same ends.”

In an address to a dinner session of the convention tonight, Bartley C. Crum, a member of the former Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine, hailed the President’s recent statement on Palestine and welcomed the letter of Secretary of State Byrnes to Dr. Stephen S. Wise, in which Byrnes stated that the Truman statement reflected official American policy on Palestine, and that the State Department was carrying out that policy.

CRUM CALLS FOR OUSTER OF STATE DEPT.’S MIDDLE EAST CHIEF

Crum stressed, however, that the “only way that we may be assured that the State Department at long last is in accord with the policies of the President,” is if Loy Henderson, head of the Middle East desk of the Department resigns. He also suggested that the following steps be taken by Mr. Byrnes:

1. A directive be issued that in the future all communications between the Arab states and the State Department be made public. 2. Remove Dr. Phillp Hitti, anti-Zionist Arab-American, as travelling “cultural representative” of the United States in the Middle East. 3. Publish the Nazi file containing records of negotiations between the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem and the Germans during the war.

LIPSKY DEFENDS AGENCY EXECUTIVE’S STAND ON PALESTINE

Louis Lipsky, a member of the Jewish Agency executive and a former president of the ZOA, addressed the convention last night, presenting a defense of the decision of the Agency executive to propose partition to the British Government. “As a matter of principle, no member of the Agency executive favors partition,” he said, adding, that “we had to come with a concrete plan in this emergency as a way out of the impasse.”

Interrupted by the audience, some members of which cried “appeasement,” Lipsky said, “I know how you feel, but in political negotiations ideology must give way to reality. All Jewish life is built upon appeasement, or we could not have lived through! certain dire situations.”