Alarmed by the growing gravity of the international crisis the 21st biennial World Zionist Congress today acted to finish its business as early as possible and make it possible for delegates from Palestine Poland and other countries to rush home
After Moshe Shertok had replied for the Zionist Executive to the general debate recommending that part of the Executive be stationed in Washington discussion was cut short and the Congress work was parcelled out among various commissions which were urged to work at the fastest possible rate and to report to a plenary session on Thursday.
Following adjournment of today s plenary session the delegates were showing more interest in the general situation in Europe than in Zionist issues. This was especially due to the fact that British delegates were advised by the British Consulate in Geneva to register with the consulate in the event an emergency arises.
The political commission met in camera tonight and David Ben Gurion laborite leader who has been urging an active program of combating Britain’s Palestine policy elaborated in a lengthy speech the views which he had expressed at the opening session of the Congress.
In the presence of Dr. Chaim Weizmann Zionist president and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver of Cleveland both of whom have been advocating moderation. Mr. Ben Gurion spoke in great detail of a self defense program as well as of the problem of illegal Jewish immigration into Palestine He developed the argument in favor of a more active program of combating implementation of the British White Paper and especially “enlightened” Rabbi Silver as to why Palestine Jewry could not accept the rabbi’s views. Dr. Weizmann did not participate in the discussion.
Other commissions were discussing budgetary and organizational problems of the Zionist movement in preparation for introduction of resolutions at the closing session of the Congress.
Negotiations have also been started among the various Zionist factions as to the composition of the new Zionist Executive There was a strong desire among most factions that the Congress should come out united as this would strengthen the forthcoming fight against the British policy. Despite the fact that the General Zionist “B” faction announced.
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.
