The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-25
EXPLAINS ORIENT ATTITUDE
Writer Tells How Far East Jews
Feel Toward Americans.
Explains Attitude Of Oriental Jews
to American JewIah Congress
Movement.

to American Jewiah Congress
Movement.
To tie Editor Of THE TINES:
For some time I have been wait
ing to lay before the public certain
facts with reference to the decision
of the Federation Of Oriental Jews
Of America not to participate in the
deliberations or to take part In any
Of the preliminary activities Of the
American Jewish Congress movement.
RETAINED from discharging this just
obligation before this. lest either. our
organization or myself would be &C.
cused Of attempted interference with
the progress Of the elections held SUM-
day, June 10, 1917, or that we were
in any way trying TO obstruct the
purpose or program OF the Congress-
Now that the elections are out of
the way. II IL time to tell the whole
truth without any reservations what
soever.
The Federation Of the Oriental Jews
agrees with unrestricted unanim-
ity to the following principles:
First-That the American Jewish
Congress At the present state Of in
ternatlonal Affairs, Is not only con-
demned to futility from its birth, but
may prove q source Of danger by
meddlinE in affairs which are Alto
gether beyond its scope, under present
conditions, and which form the sub
Jeet matter OF the serious delibera-
tons OF our Government
Second-rhat the problem originally
surrounding the Jewish issue which
existed at the time when the con-
gress was 1rst proposed no longer
happily exist. since Russia has liber-
ated Its Jewish population, and since
the largest part Of the Jewish prob
lem was concerned with the condition
OF the Russian Jewry, the largest
part Of the usefulness OF the pro-
posed congress Is nulli1ed.
Third-That the status Of the Jews
in Roumania Is not in any way
jeopardized at the present time and
will not be before the Issue of the
fact. II would be embarrassing to
the heads OF our Government to deal
with such a problem AZ the present
time. "a
Fourth-That the only problem
which may legitimately be taken up
at this time Is a political and national
problem. one OF the solutions Of which
Is Zlonism. To discuss Zionism Is
one thing: TO convene an American
Jewish Congress Is quite q different
thing. II the Zionists feel that the
with the powers and prerogatiyes
held by the Turkish government in
Palestine, and that they wish TO
make oVertures TO the Turkish gov
ernment-if this Is their course then
1t Is clear that they must cooperate
with the American Government As
the only agency which In the presently
crisis has the right to foster the !
tional aspirations Of the Jews. and
the only agency which can be trusted
to deal with the issue, and with some
hope OF success
FIfth-The Turkish Jews can
neither uphold the idea Of a Jewish
Congress at the time nor attend Its
deliberations because the Turkish
Jews in Turkey have no quarrel with
their government and there exists no
Turkish Jewish problem outside OF
the coffee house. II the Jewish sub
jects Of the Turkish government now
living in America participate in any
Jewish congress. their action would
imply the assailment of the sover
eighty OF the Turkish government
which at the same time is the SOW
ereign over Palestine. Thus a double
danger would result. first to their
brothers and sisters now living in
Turkey, upon whom the congress
may react unfaVorably, and 1t would
likewise endange- the very prospects
OF the Zionist cause, which the Jew
Ish congress claims to have at heart.
However, the Turkish Jews In
America do not isolate themselves nor
are they Indifferent to the historic
events now shaping themselves and
which ultimately should effect for
the better condition of the Jews all
over the world, but this does not
mean that they are ready to convene
or congressize or to hold idle discus
sIons which have no origin in fact
and which can have no solution IL
independently considered by Ameri-
can Jews. But they do feel that their
cooperation and knowledge Of orien-
tai affairs would help in discussion
OF the Zionist issue and have always
been ready and are now ready to lend
their cooperation whenever called
upon, but always within the loyalty
TO their place of origin and of q
sense Of proportion with reference to
the complex situation which now
prevails. JOSEPH GEDALECIA,
President