The Zionist Executive, in a lengthy letter to the World Union of General Zionists dealing with the subject of the Organization of General Zionists in Poland and its relations with the Zionist Federation of Poland, has requested the World Union to “cease” all steps that can lead to the establishment of a separate organization of the General Zionists in Poland “and thus to the splitting of the Federation.”
“When we wrote to you on the above matter,” the letter of the Zionist Executive said, “we hoped that you would, in accordance with our request, by influencing your friends in Poland, try to prevent illegal steps leading to a split in the organization.
“To our regret, we see from your letter that, on the contrary, you, in the name of the Organization of General Zionists in Congress Poland, approve and defend the steps that have been taken.
CALL ATTITUDE UNJUSTIFIED
“We are very much astonished that, despite our explanations, you have taken up such an unjustified attitude and must, in reply to the arguments of your letter, direct your attention to the following:
“You appear to be mistaken with regard to the relations between your World Union and the Executive of the Zionist Organization, as well as regarding the obligations applying to your Union which arise out of the laws of the Zionist Organization and the status of the World Union.
“You must understand that in the case of a difference of opinion between the Executive and yourselves in regard to the application of Zionist laws, you are, indeed, justified in bringing to our knowledge your divergent opinion and in trying to effect a change of our standpoint by means of a discussion.
SEEK CONSOLIDATION
“But you cannot publicly declare that you adhere to your divergent opinion and, without any regard to the requests of the Executive, support actions which the Executive considers as illegal.
“Your Union was founded as an association of Zionist Federations and can only discharge its task properly if its activity results in a consolidation and strengthening of the Federations which form the pillars of our organization as a whole.
“Every act that is in contradiction thereto and threatens to bring about the splitting and disintegration of the Federations instead of strengthening them would be in conflict with the legitimate mission of your Union and signify an injury to the interests of the World Zionist Organization, which the Executive as well as your Union must resist with all the power at its disposal.
WARN AGAINST SPLIT
“It is true that you, in your statute, have provided that not only Federations but also ‘territorial groups of General Zionists’ can belong to your Union. When the Executive took note of the establishment of your Union on October 26, 1931, it wrote to you as follows with regard to the relevant paragraph in your statute:
” ‘The present wording of the paragraph can be so construed that within a Federation, which, although comprising only General Zionists, declines to join the World Union, a minority can organize itself as a territorial group and join the World Union.
” ‘If this were the case, then, by applying the principle of reciprocity in the Federations which belong to the World Union, minorities could claim the right to form a territorial group of persons of different view.
REFUSE SUPPORT
” ‘It is clear that the Executive cannot agree to support developments which could lead to a disintegration and not to a strengthening of the Federations, and for this reason we propose that this paragraph should be formulated as follows:
” ‘In countries whose Federation also embraces separate Union groups and, on this account, is not a member of the World Union, territorial groups of General Zionists can be formed which have the right to join the World Union as members.’ “
The Zionist Executive’s letter then points out that “the relevant paragraph of your statute can be approved by the Executive only in this wording.”
NOT CONSIDERED SEPARATE
“It follows therefrom,” the communication continues, “that the intended establishment of a territorial group of your Union in Congress Poland, involving a split of the local Zionist Federation, cannot be permitted.
“Your Union forms a working association of Zionist Federations (and perhaps also territorial groups), but not a separate Union, as is expressly laid down in paragraph four of your statute.
“It cannot, therefore, appeal to examples that are taken from the life of separate Unions or of parties that wish to be recognized as separate Unions, all the more as some of these examples refer to actions which, according to the constitution of the Zionist Organization, are illegal.
VARYING VIEWPOINTS
“The fact that in certain countries there are bodies that call themselves Zionist, which have come into existence by disregarding the constitution of the Zionist Organization, does not entitle your Union, which expressly declared in paragraph six of its statute that its laws may not be in conflict with the laws of the Zionist Organization, to demand that within its activity, actions shall be sanctioned which are inadmissible according to the laws of the Zionist Organization.
“The right of the Eth Libnoth group to develop an activity within the Zionist Federation of Poland, to be a part of this Federation, and to represent its views unhindered, is not disputed on any side.
“The Eth Libnoth group has for years worked as part of the Zionist Federation of Poland, and it can continue its activity in this form in the future without hindrance.
CONTRADICTS CONSTITUTION
“But it has not the right to withdraw from the Zionist Federation and to establish an organization of General Zionists.
“The establishment of such an organization is in contradiction to paragraph three of our statute and, therefore, cannot be recognized.
“The fact that the Eth Libnoth group has been in communication with you already for a long time does not in any way affect the illegality of your present mode of procedure.
“We regret that in paragraph five of your letter, you dispute the accuracy of a statement made by us. We must, therefore, inform you that there has come to our knowledge a technical circular No. 1 issued by the organization of General Zionists in Poland, which contains the following passage:
” ‘In view of the fact that we are creating an organization of our own, it is clear that our members are withdrawing from the Zionist Organization of Poland.
” ‘In this way all obligations toward the Central Committee of the aforementioned organization in regard to discipline, as well as the payment of organization contributions, cease. We are convinced that not only individual members but also whole societies will join our Union.
” ‘You must endeavor to carry out such resolutions at the meetings of your society.’
“You will doubtless be able, on the basis of this quotation, to form a correct idea of the character of the Organization of General Zionists, which aims at replacing the Zionist Federation and leading its members and societies astray.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
