Complete Text of Dr. Chaim Weizmann’s Address

The complete text of Dr. Chaim Weismann’s address delivered at the U. P. A. Conference follows:

“I think we all feel that this conference differs, to a very considerable extent, from the usual openings which take place at our Conventions, Dr. Weizmann began. “When Mr. Warburg came into this hall, we all felt that he not only represented a distinguished guest, whom we are ready to receive with open arms, but that he was a symbol of a momentous event in the history of our movement; and he, in his entry, symbolized this happening.

“You have rightly paid homage to a man who is not new to the Zionist work or to the Palestine work. For a non-Zionist, Mr. Warburg has done pretty well. For years, he had been intimately connected with important pieces of our work. For years, he has been — and it should be known — the largest contributor to our funds, and it is owing to Mr. and Mrs. Warburg’s generosity and interest that the University of Jerusalem could function as it did in the last three years. I can only say that if the Zionists would emulate the example of the non-Zionists, we would be very well off.

“It is difficult to speak in the presence of a man without being suspected of flattery, but I think we are not given, in Zionism, very much to flattery. I think it is fundamentally Owing to his moral influence and to his smoothing down the difficulties that we were enabled to bring about the union of forces which we witnessed about three weeks ago. We are happy that he stands at the head of the Committee of Seven which is to deal with the important problems of the organization of the Jewish Agency because I am confident that it is owing to his influence, to his temperament and to his skill that the difficulties will be smoothed over. if any difficulties should present themselves.

“Mr. Warburg. you have been received this morning by men and women whom, for years, under adverse circumstances, have been carrying a burden which has been, to a considerable extent, taxing their energies very much. It is through their work that Palestine could develop as it did in the last eight years.

“Permit me, only in a few words, to touch upon the situation as it presents itself now to us. First, with regard to the Agency, I think we may safely say that the Agency will come into operation in the course of the next summer. It will be the endeavor of those who are to form and to organize this instrument to bring about a meeting of the Council of the Agency about July or August of the next summer. It is difficult for me to say at present whether the Zionist Congress will precede the meeting of the Council or take place after it, but at any rate, the Council of the Agency should start its work in the course of the next summer. You know that we have still to organize four or five countries, and I think there will be no difficulty in doing that. It means that the work in Palestine will be carried by the Agency as from Rosh Hashonah of next year. You know, also, that at the last meeting of the Zionist Council in Berlin, the Zionists made certain important reservations as far as the report of the experts is concerned.

“At the first meeting of the representatives of the Committee of Seven, presided over by Mr. Warburg, with the representatives of the Zionist Organization we succeeded, I think, in straightening out the difficulties and in dealing with the reservations in a manner which, I am sure, will be satisfactory to both sides. There was and there is no intention on the part of anybody to interfere either with the working of the National Fund or with the tenure of land, as far as our land for colonization is concerned. As far as the Kvuzoth and other matters are concerned, I am in a happy position to state that we shall be able to submit to the Actions Committee on December 20 a formula which should prove satisfactory to both sides. I think that neither on the part of the Zionist Organization, nor certainly on the part of the Committee of Seven, is any difficult formula or any principle in the way of finally forming and consummating the Jewish Agency.

“What is the value of the Jewish Agency? The value of the Jewish Agency is two-fold. First of all material — material in the physical sense. We have been carrying a heavy burden, and it is natural that if you have got more people to carry the burden, the burden will distribute itself more evenly over the shoulders of the multitude. I feel sure that we shall soon be able to proceed at a tempo which is quicker than we have been marching hitherto. There has been, throughout these years, a tragic discrepancy between the desire and the possibility Mr. Warburg, in his fine way, alluded to the fact that we are going too fast. We were trying to go too fast, realizing all the time that in Palestine the progress has been slower than is necessary and desirable.

“I need not point out how many colonies and Jews we have in Palestine. It is essential, for the normal development of the National Home, that immigration should go on systematically, regularly and soundly, and go on increasing and not decreasing.” he declared. “And I think that the happenings of the last year — even the incident of the Wailing Wall — would not have taken place if the Arab population of Palestine would feel that every boat which comes into the harbor of Palestine carries Jewish immigrants to stay in the country. I have said it before, and I am going to repeat it now. The key to the doors of Palestine is not in the pocket of the High Commissioner for Palestine, but it is in the pockets of the Jews of America, and therefore I think the strength which we have gained means more work, more land more settlements, more immigration.

“But I address myself particularly to those friends with whom we have been working for many years. Let us not think for one moment that our duty is easier today. It is pleasanter. We can see better things coming, but we have got to go on with our work just as before. Do not rely on the fact that others have come in, and you are likely to hand over the burden to them. We shall all work together. We shall do our share as we have done it before and a little more. That is, in my opinion, the material value of the Agency.

“But much greater, and much deeper, in my humble opinion, is the moral value of unity in Israel, of a united from at least on one important subject. The state of affairs in Jewry can be characterized only by one Hebrew word. The state of affairs in Jewry has been ‘Hefker.’ Everybody could do anything at any time, and there was no moral authority to approve or disapprove of any undertaking. I think the creation of a body which unites all shades of opinion in Jewry — and it is a mighty difficult thing to unite — will, in course of time, even without desiring it, produce an authoritative place from which an opinion can be enunciated on important matters in Jewish life. Our enemies have been playing too long on the fact that we are always disunited. We shall be morally and materially united, and that will represent, in the future, a great force, We shall not have to go to Geneva or to any important international gathering to have to explain opposite opinions represented by Jews themselves. In Palestine there will be one authoritative opinion spoken, and when that will be spoken, it will be heard.

“That brings me to another point — our relations with the British Government. I have repeatedly tried to prove, both in action and in thought and in words, that there is only one way of dealing with the British Government. You cannot force it, you can only try to convince it, and this power of conviction is stronger in proportion to the work which we have done.

“The error which some Zionists have made is to threaten. It is a gross mistake for a political leader to make a threat and not be able to carry it out, becames then one thing happens. One becomes ridiculous. In political life nothing kills a leader more quickly than to become ridiculous. There is the question of the Wailing Wall. We Jews have been legally wrong in this matter. From the finest legalistic point of view, we had no business to set up something which was not there before. But admitting that we were legalistically wrong, we are morally and absolutely in the right to demand the right of freedom of worship in the only sacred place which belongs to us. And nothing will deter us from using all constitutional methods to gain this end. We cannot threaten. We can only demand in honor, dignity, and loyalty, that we obtain our rights. We mean to stay there. We mean to worship at a place which morally belongs to us. We do not mean to trespass on the legitimate property of the Arabs. I think we shall get our way. It may last a year, it may last two years. But the greatest virtue Zionists have to exercise is patience. We Jews have been waiting for Palestine for about 1,800 or 1,900 years. We shall exercise patience another year or two.

“You are about to enter upon a critical year of work. It is a year during which we have to clear up our difficulties and enter into work with our partners with a clean sheet. We had a crisis in Palestine and this crisis reflected itself on to the work of the organization, and one crisis strengthened another. Today there is no crisis in Palestine. The work can procced normally.

“We have begun a modest program of immigration. The government has granted us 600 certificates for Chaluzim.

“We begin immigration anew — on the responsibility of American Jews. Your responsibility today is doubly heavy. We must not have a set-back again. Once begun, we must be able to continue this immigration. How well or modestly we may carry on this program depends upon your work. You have received sufficient encouragement to be confident that your work will be successful.

“I have no sympathy with any Zionist who says he is tired. You will have to go on and make a success out of the United Palestine Appeal. If you are successful this year, you can look forward to next year being more successful than the years gone by. This should give you strength and courage. You should believe, as every Jew ought to believe, that you will see the beginnings of your national home with your own eyes,” Dr. Weizmann concluded.

BROOKLYN FEDERATION RAISES $75,000 AT DINNER

A sum of $75,000 was contributed to the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities at the fourth annual dinner and ball Sunday night.

Mayor James J. Walker was among the guests of honor. He commended the Federation for its work.

Justice Mitchell May, president of the organization, delivered an address of welcome.

Benjamin C. Ribman was chairman of the committee which arranged for the ball. Among those who served with him were Judge Grover M. Moscowitz, Juustice Edward Lazansky, Judge Harry E. Lewis, Judge Alexander Geismar, Max Abelman, Mrs. Nathan L. Goldstein and Harry Zeitz.

Justice May declared that during the past twenty years the Federation has distributed more than $6,000,000, cared for 2,660 Jewish orphans. provided free hospital care for 43,000 sick people and served 47,000 impoverished families.

During the past year the Federation has expended nearly $700,000, and it is now seeking $835,000 for its 1929 budgetary requirements and $200,000 to meet its 1928 deficit.