Safeguarding of Zionist Principles Wise Condition for Agency Concurrence

The safeguarding of Zionist principles is the condition on which Dr. Stephen S. Wise, vice-president of the Zionist General Council and Rabbi of the Free Synagogue of New York, will insist upon when the 16th Zionist Congress will vote on the ratification of pact between the Zionists and the non-Zionists for the creation of the extended Jewish Agency for Palestine.

Dr. Wise, who is here to attend the sessions and who has been in opposition to the procedure of the Zionist Executive concerning the Agency plan, in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent here today declared: “At a recent session of the American Jewish Congress at which I presided a resolution was unanimously adopted pledging support to the extended Jewish Agency. I expressed approval of the resolution, stating then, as at the Berlin Actions Committee meeting, as upon other occasions, that I favored the extension of the Jewish Agency, not on any terms, but under conditions which would adequately safeguard the principles of the Zionist movement. Some of the safeguards for which I contended, including the use of the term (Continued on Page 3)

“Jewish National Home,” have made their way into the proposed Jewish Agency Constitution and preamble.

“Now once more, and for the last time, we Zionists who have something precious, even sacred to safeguard, not only with respect to the principles of the movement, but also its work for a generation since Herzl, in the rebuilding of the Jewish National Home, cannot afford to do less than insure that our cause shall not be weakened, but strengthened by the proposed extension.

“At this time, on the eve of the establishment of the Agency, there need and will be no division in the ranks of the Zionists assembled in the Congress, provided we be united not only to secure the co-operation of the non-Zionists but to hold inviolate the Zionist principles. Only if these be held inviolate will the proposed co-operation become of moment in the history of the Jewish people and the Jewish land.”