Neumann Discusses General Zionists

Congress, will lead to disaster. One thing is certain, the General Zionists, at least such of them as are conscious of their responsibility to the movement, will not consent to become the tail of any party kite. In so far as Labor wants an honorable coalition with the other parties genuinely anxious for a coalition, the prospects are by no means dark.”

Mr. Neumann deplored the poor showing made by the General Zionists in the election, particularly in the United States.

“I disagree sharply with those who say that the election showed a swing to Labor or the existence of pro-Labor sentiment among the General Zionists,” he said. “The Laborites have been very active, but the General Zionists have neglected their duty to themselves and to the movement.

DECLINE NOT NEW

“The decline started years ago. The elections of 1929 showed that the votes were totally out of line, as regards the actual number of General Zionists against the other parties. The result was that in the 16th Congress, the General Zionists found themselves for the first time in a minority.

“This was and is caused by the fact that the General Zionists are the only group not firmly organized along party lines, with party apparatus, a central committee and a closely knit party organization.

“The General Zionists have played a role of ‘good fellows,’ perilously close to the role of fool, doing work, bearing heavy burdens, financial and otherwise, but permitting the other parties to encroach more and more. While the other parties have been insisting on the central position of Keren Hayesod and the Keren Kayemeth as the central funds, they themselves have set up distinct funds of their own, while the General Zionists expended their energies for the two funds named above, the other parties devoted themselves to capturing Congress seats. And at the Congress they won control of the appropriations.

TIME FOR DECISION

“What would the other parties have said if the General Zionists had organized their own funds and left the National funds to the mercy of chance? Not only funds, but the rules of the Congress were constantly adapted and adjusted to benefit the parties other than the General Zionists.

“The moment has come when the General Zionists must decide ‘to be or not to be.’ If there is such a thing as a General Zionist point of view, then this is the eleventh hour in which to organize as an international body and entity. The delegates to the Congress have the chance to redeem the great failure of the General Zionists in the election, by devoting their energies to the consolidation of their movement. They must have the courage to assert their rights so long trampled under foot.”

At the same time that Mr. Neumann sailed to attend the World Congress at Prague, Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America, sailed on the Tuscania, accompanied by his son, Nathaniel, Louis Lipsky, chairman of the American Palestine Campaign, sailed Friday.