“we Will Suffer As Long As We Will Be Weak,” Dr. Weizmann Tells Critics

Senator William E. Borah, chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, figured prominently in the proceedings of the Zionist Congress in session here when Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, took the floor late Wednesday night to reply to his critics in the general debate which is continuing for the third day. A motion to close the debate was defeated by a majority vote and the decision on the extension of the Jewish Agency, the principal question on the agenda of the Zionist legislative body, was therefore delayed. The vote is expected at the earliest on Thursday evening.

The reference to Senator Borah was made by Dr. Weizman when he refuted the charge made the day before by Dr. Stephen S. Wise of New York that the present Zionist leadership was “sacrificing” the Russian Zionists who suffer persecution at the hands of the Soviet government. Dr. Weizmann expressed resentment at the action of Dr. Wise who, without consulting the Zionist Executive in London, conferred with the British Labor Foreign Secretary, Arthur Henderson, soliciting the interest of the British government in easing the fate of the Zionists in Russia when it starts negotiations with the Soviet government for resumption of diplomatic relations.

Before an audience of three thousand, including delegates and guests, the brilliantly lighted Opera House being filled to overflowing, the Zionist leader spoke in low tones with only a single interruption from Dr. Wise.

“WE WILL SUFFER AS LONG AS WE ARE WEAK”

“I was accused by M. M. Ussishkin of attempting to pacify the Zionist Congress, but Mr. Ussishkin speaks one language and I another. My report did not conceal a single instance. It merely laid emphasis on the cases in which we succeeded. It neither defended nor attacked the British government. Ours is a hard road on which we must fight for every step. We cannot compete with the phraseology of Dr. Stephen S. Wise and others. It is my hard duty to say that the situation is difficult and will continue to be so for a long time, but we suffer less because Great Britain is the Mandatory Power. It would be worse if another power had the mandate. I am aware that we must daily and hourly memorialize, always remembering that British public opinion and even the League of Nations if called upon to judge between us and the Mandatory Government would uphold our stand in the majority of cases. It is easy to attack the Zionist Executive for every mistake made by the government. I, too, could easily win the applause of the galleries by criticizing the government, but I have not done so for I realize that we are contending against iron realities. We cannot always put our inner feelings into phrases and protests which will not mend matters. As long as we will be weak we will suffer injustice,” Dr. Weizmann declared.

Speaking in behalf of a cautious policy, Dr. Weizmann confessed that “the Wailing Wall question is the crux and the index to our position in Palestine,” and admitted that the view expressed by Mr. Ussishkin that “no such humiliation was possible to Christians at the Holy Sepulchre” was correct. “If other methods and men are found then they will be unanimously elected, but in the absence of other men, it is hard for us and for you, but we must swallow it.”

Turning to Mr. Usshishkin, Dr. Weizmann said, “I am aware that the difficulty of our position is more acutely felt in Palestine. We work in the midst of a tremendous effort. Our answer can be only one : another stone, another village, another colony. I believe that life must conquer. Our daily work will make the task easier for the coming generations.”

INTERVENTION FOR RUSSION ZIONISTS OF NO AVAIL

Dr. Weizmann then turned to answer Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff, labor leader, and Dr. Stephen S. Wise, who demanded Zionist Executive action in behalf of the persecuted and exiled Zionists in Soviet Russia. He pointed out the inconsistency in the argument of Dr. Arlosoroff who suggested that the British government intervene with the Soviet government in behalf of the Zionists, while Dr. Arlosoroff himself advocates that the principle of mutual non-interference in internal affairs of the respective countries should be the basis for the proposed British Soviet agreement.

“Little or nothing is possible with Russia of today which snaps its fingers at public opinion, having isolated itself from the civilized world and believes itself more civilized than the rest of the world. No moral pressure can, therefore, be exercised on this country. The action which you propose is that the Zionist Congress adopt a resolution of protest or, rather, readopt its old resolution which will be merely a proclamation or a declamation which might salve our conscience without helping a single Zionist in Russia,” Dr. Weizmann declared.

THE BORAH-WISE-WEIZMANN INCIDENT

“There is a supposition that the Zionist Executive has done nothing in this matter. This is wrong. We did not wait for Dr. Wise,” Dr. Weizmann declared, turning to Dr. Wise and saying: “You went to Washington, then to London, the papers writing up your

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journey, addressing public meetings and indicating that some mysterious personage in Washington directed you to the British government in London, not saying who.” At this point Dr. Wise interrupted the speaker exclaiming, “You know it was Senator Borah.” Weizmann, amidst laughter among the delegates, retorted : “I thought it was Brandeis.” (United States Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, formerly the leader of the Zionist movement in the United States, an opponent of Dr. Weizmann’s policy.)

“Senator Borah,” Dr. Weizmann said, “is indeed a powerful personality and is bound to feel impelled to fight an injustice, but that he should send you to Henderson, while you, knowing that the principle of non-interference is the basis of the negotiations between the British government and Soviet Russia, was a wasted journey.

“Only the government of the United States can exert its influence on Soviet Russia,” the Zionist leader continued. “The situation with regard to soviet Russia is more difficult than it was regarding Czaristic Russia. Czarastic Russia occasionally sought foreign credits and was therefore sensitive to public opinion. The Soviet government does not obtain credit. Our many Russian friends warned us against empty protests,” Dr. Weizmann stated.

The Zionist leader then expressed his resentment of the step taken by Dr. Wise in conferring with the British Foreign Secretary without consulting the Zionist Executive in London : “Why did you not make sure of the steps taken by the Zionist Executive before approaching the British government?” Dr. Weizmann asked Dr. Wise. “You generously assured me you would take me to Henderson if I happened to be in London. Four years ago you would not give such magnanimous assurance, but in London there is irresponsible Executive elected by the Zionist Congress, why did you not consult them?

ECHOES OF THE DEAD SEA CONCESSION NEGOTIATIONS

“The gentlemen of the opposition are able to express themselves freely. We often cannot do that, we cannot even reply. An example may be found in the following. Last year Dr. Wise, or another American oppositionist, delivered a speech in which he threatened that in case the concession for the exploitation of the Dead Sea is not granted by the British government to Moses Novomejsky and Major Tulloch, the American government would intervene. I do not know whether it is wise or right to play one government against the other. At any rate, this gentleman did not know of the great difficulties concerning the concession which emanated from the United States.

“To attack the British government and then elect and Executive which will have to negotiate with this government is not fair,” Dr. Weizmann said.

MAKES FINAL PLEA FOR AGENCY PACT RATIFICATION

The last part of his address Dr. Weizmann devoted to a final plea to the 322 delegates assembled from all parts of the world to give their final ratification to the pact for the extension of the Jewish Agency.

“It is in your hands. Make the Jewish Agency a Kenesseth Israel (all-embracing Jewish body). The Jewish Agency was born as the result of the feeling that we cannot continue at the present slow tempo. We Zionists have remained too long a handful. The slow tempo of the Palestine rebuilding work is full of dangers. This the residents of Palestine know best. The extension of the Jewish Agency is also based on the belief that Palestine will be able to penetrate and to win over the soul of every Jew. Already, there are many non-Zionists who work for Palestine with a greater zeal than some Zionists do.” Shouts of : “Very true” were heard from various points in the hall.

DESCRIBES ANXIETIES OF LEADERSHIP

“When things were bad in Palestine and money was needed, I was sent to these Jews who did nothing but gave. In this process we saw how Palestine has revolutionized the thoughts of these men. Let us remember that the Balfour Declaration was not given to us Zionists alone, but to the whole of the House of Israel. If the Congress will rise to its highest level, it will succeed in making this Kenesseth Israel a powerful instrument, a central institution. It was for these reasons that I found myself forced to take this difficult road. Mr. Gruenbaum recalled what I said after the first Zionist Congress that ‘I felt for the first time a free man during the three days of the first Congress.’ This, however, was before the Balfour Declaration, which came when Jewry was shattered. It is true the Balfour Declaration was not a gift but a promissory note. It found a shattered people before a tremendous task. We were like the Sphinx. We faced either being made or destroyed.

“Then joy departed from my life. Year in and year out the difficult work had to be carried on day by day. I was trembling daily when opening a newspaper, wondering whence the next blow would be delivered. The Balfour Declaration was still pending. Men, money and miracles were needed. The miracle has happened. Men came forward, but the burden still remains, until better days will arrive which we perhaps will be privileged to see. More courage is required to say this than to attack the British officials.”

Concluding his final plea regarding the Agency Dr. Weizmann said : “If you reject the Jewish Agency extension plan history will record that a great moment found a small generation.”

A long ovation was given Dr. Weizmann when he left the platform.

The president of the World Zionist Organization was not present when Dr. Wise delivered his address and attended but partly the session when Vladimir Jabotinsky launched his attack. During his address which began shortly before midnight, Dr. Weizmann appeared worn and weak.