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Washington Conference Names 52 Delegates to Geneva Parley

June 16, 1936
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The national electoral conference for the World Jewish Congress last night endorsed unanimously the movement to create a permanent, central and democratic representation for the Jewish people and named fifty-two delegates who, together with twenty named by organizations affiliated with the American Jewish Congress and five delegates at large, will represent American Jewry at the first session of the world congress in Geneva August 8.

The delegates at large are: Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Judge Julian W. Mack, Louis Lipsky, Rabbi I.M. Ashinsky and Joseph Schlossberg.

The conference formulated a plan of action for the congress, instructing the delegates to submit the following proposals:

1) Establishment of a commission on civil and political relations “to cooperate on call with particular Jewish communities in making representations before the League of Nations and specific Governments.

2) Establishment of a bureau of research and information “to establish through impartial science the sources, means and uses of anti-Semitic propaganda and to present the truth about the Jews before the enlightened public opinion of the world.”

3) Formation of an institute of economic research to coordinate existing agencies “for the study and amelioration in view of the rapid changes in the economic condition of Jews everywhere, especially in Central Europe.”

The conference urged appointment of a special commission to democratize relief. It recognized the Jewish Agency for Palestine as the authoritative agency for the rebuilding of the Jewish homeland and called on the world congress to cooperate with it.

In addition, the conference proposed creation of a migrations commission to cooperate with existing agencies through a central office and the creation of an executive council to carry out the world congress decisions between sessions.

To carry out a rehabilitation program, creation of a central cooperative bank was urged in a unanimous resolution. A $200,000 trust fund was proposed to finance the various commissions. Convening of the next world congress would be by direct ballot under a resolution introduced by Magistrate Nathan D. Perlman of New York.

Representative John W. McCormack of Massachusetts, speaking last night at a farewell dinner for Dr. Stephen S. Wise, who will leave for Europe Tuesday, assailed intolerance as an enemy of the American constitution. He said:

“The attempt to array American against American because of difference of race or creed or color, thus creating misunderstanding and hatred resulting in persecution, is subversive of that great document.”

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