Menachem Ussishkin, Chairman of the Palestine Executive of the Zionist Organization who arrived here from Jerusalem to take part in the deliberations of the Actions Committee, outlined before the Jewish Telegraphic Agency his program as opposed to that of President Chaim Weizmann’s, which he assailed as “immaterial.”
The conflict which is expected to arise at the approaching Zionist Congress over the constituting of the Jewish Agency is “immaterial,” the veteran Zionist leader said. “Baron Rothschild, the father of the new Jewish settlement in Palestine did not wait to begin his work until he had had the title of member of the Jewish Agency conferred upon him. Others to receive this title may and may not be moved thereby in Palestine.”
In contrast with the plan fostered by Dr. Weizmann that the seat of the new Zionist Executive to be elected by the approaching Zionist Congress, shall be in London, and its plenipotentiary reside in Jerusalem, Mr. Ussishkin urges that the seat be in Jerusalem, a political representative residing in London acting under the instruction of the Jerusalem body. Mr. Ussishkin insisted however the question of leadership was not one of personnel. “I welcome everyone who thoroughly and sincerely believes in the maximum of our ideal and not in its present whittled down form , for it is only men of faith who can communicate their beliefs to others.”
Characterizing the chasm between Sir Herbert Samuel’s intentions and acts as “unbridgeable,” Mr. Ussishkin said “the High Commissioner is a tragic figure. His resignation, however, would be a misfortune because today Sir Herbert is the symbol of the Balfour Declaration.”
Dr. Georg Halpern, Treasurer of the Zionist Organization and Chairman of the Jewish Colonial Trust, following the report on the Zionist situation to the opening session of the Actions Committee by Nahum Sckolow, Chairman of the Executive, said in reporting on his recent visit to America the willingness of great sections of American Jews for participation in the Palestine task was boundless.” Leading Jews of America are prepared to place at the disposal of Palestine enterprises credit facilities amounting to $5,000,000, Dr. Halperin reported.
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.
