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Revisionists Threaten Bitter Campaign Against Agency Extension Plan

January 2, 1929
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Claiming that the decision of the Zionist General Council at its recent session in Berlin ratifying the Weizmann-Marshall agreement on the extension of the Jewish Agency is illegal and asserting that the Jewish Agency pact is an attack on the sovereignty of the Zionist Congress in relation to the Palestine work and the Zionist movement, the League of Zionist-Revisionists pledged itself to carry on a bitter campaign of opposition against the final consummation of the Jewish Agency extension plan.

These assertions and threats were contained in a series of resolutions adopted by the League’s third annual conference which closed its sessions here Sunday evening.

Vladimir Jabotinsky, who in his closing address predicted a hard fight during the election of delegates to the forthcoming Zionist Congress, was carried out of the hall on the shoulders of his enthusiastic, youthful followers.

Jabotinsky was reelected president of the League, while Meer Grossman of London and Richard Lichtheim of Berlin were chosen vice-president. To be or not to be, will be the problem faced by the Zionist movement, Jabotinsky stated, exclaiming: “You, Zionist brother, save your Zionism ! Save the Zionist Congress. Guard the greatest of our national treasures !”

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The majority of the Zionist General Council and the members of the Zionist Executive who have voted for the ratification of the Weizmann-Marshall agreement will live through difficult hours when they will “honestly consider” the significance of their procedure against “Herzl’s heritage,” Jabotinsky declared.

The resolution adopted by the conference with regard to the Jewish Agency pact declares that the decision of the Zionist General Council ratifying it was “illegal” and contrary to the decision of the Zionist Congress. All further steps which will be taken by the Zionist Executive toward the realization of the Jewish Agency extension will therefore be illegal and not binding for the Zionist Organization, the resolution states, adding that the Revisionists will undertake an extensive campaign to prevent the consummation of the Jewish Agency plan. In case the Zionist Congress will finally ratify the plan, the Revisionists will continue their fight for “the restoration of the sovereignty of the Zionist Congress, which is the only body having the function of the Jewish Agency.”

The Saturday night session of the conference was held behind closed doors, as a discussion on the differences within the League of Zionist Revisionists was in progress. It is understood that the division is principally centered around the conflict between Vladimir Jabotinsky and Meer Grossman as to the principles and tactics of the Revisionist party. No vote was taken on this question, as a committee of five was charged with settling the differences temporarily. The result of the compromise was that the Palestine branch of the League of Zionist-Revisionists was granted a limited autonomy and that the slogan demanding independent political representation for Palestine Jews was for the present maintained.

A resolution was also adopted with regard to Col. Josiah Wedgwood’s Seventh Dominion idea. It states that the Seventh Dominion principle is in no conflict with the Revisionists’ aim of a Jewish state in Palestine. The resolution does not commit the League to Col. Wedgwood’s plan. It merely welcomes Col. Wedgwood’s efforts and states that they are the best basis for an understanding.

Another resolution adopted deals with the capital and labor question in Palestine. Arbitration of labor disputes by national organizations is declared to be of prime importance during the state building period.

Acceptance of plans for the new eight-story department store for Abraham & Straus, to be erected on the present site in Brooklyn, at an estimated cost of $7,000,000, has been announced by E. C. Blum, First Vice-President.

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