New-York tribune., 1920-08-30
Jews and the League

Jews and the League
Eventual Admission of Palestine Is
Planned For
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: On tho basis Of brief dispatch
relating to the attitude Of the Jews
toward the League Of Nations, and the
purport of which Is not entirely clear.
Rabbi Isaac Landman has rushed into
print to denounce the Committee of
Jewish Delegations in Paris and to make
declarations in behalf Of the American
Jews.
The reported decision of the Commit
tee of Jewish Delegations evidently has
to do with the national Jewish aspira-
tions, ccntering around the idea now in
process Of realization, pertaining to the
reestablishment of the Jewish homeland
in Palestine.
Naturally, the Jews in Palestine and
the nationalist Jewish leaders abroad,
like the spokesmen Of other rehabili-
tated nationalities, look toward the
League of Nations as the great moral
influence Of the world in the future, and
even the peoples not yet~fully set up in
nationhood already aspire for seat in
the league which they hope will in the
COURSE of time be granted them. For
the rest, it seems fairer to await a
definite and authoritative statement
with regard to this decision before
launching upon criticism and dcnuncia-
ton.
Mr.. Landmarks statement with regard
to the standing of the committee of
delegations is one-sided 1t is true that
the committee is an outgrowth of the
delegation from the American Jewish
Congress-, and of the delegations elected
by popular assemblies and large organ
izatlons in other lands, with view
OF bringing the Jewish claims be-
fore the peace conference. But
after the conclusion of those
labors before the peace conference con-
ditions arose which made it necessary
for the delegations in Paris to continue
IN session, and the continued activities
have been carried on with the sanction
OF the constituent organizations and
other bodies in the different lands.
Though the treaties have been signed
and the Jewish claims with regard to
the homeland in Palestine and minority
rights for the Jews of Eastern Europe
have been fully recognized by the Allied
and associated powers, the continued
conditions of disorder and warfare in
Europe, the new outbursts of fanaticism
and racial hatred in the form of
pogroms, and the tendency of some of
the new and enlarged states to ignore
the clauses in the treaties safeguarding
the lives and property of minorities.
have necessitated the making of further
presentations to the governments and
appeals to the conscience Of civilization.
and the Committee of Jewish Delega-
tions has therefore extended its labors
beyond the temporary needs required
by the peace conference.
This has been done not only with the
sanction of affiliated organizations. but
with the moral approval of the Jewish
masses in the various lands, who are
anxious about the welfare of their
brethren in the still unsettled and dis
turbed regions. For the same reason
the American Jewish Congress, formed
originally for wartime purposes, is now
beng reorganzed with view of carry
ing on further labors for the protection
OF the rights and promotion of the vel
fare of our harassed people abroad.
Pending the completion of the reor-
ganlzation, the 400 delegates to the for
mer congress-, representing the leading
national and central organizations, and
over 200 communities in the different
cities of the country, have, with the
consent of their constituencies, assumed
the duty of cooperating with the Com
mittee of Jewish Delegations in Paris
IN meeting any new emergencies and in
furthering the aims of securing justice
for the, Jews everywhere. The Provi-
sional Organization for the American
Jewish Congress is headed by Mr.
Nathan Straus, and has among its other
officers DR.. Stephen S. Wise, Max
Mitchell, Morris Rothenberg, Abraham
S. Schooner, Mrs. Mary Fels and the
heads of a number of leading organiza-
uons whose views and position in the
community are very we'll known.
BERNARD c.. RICHARDS.
Executive Secretary, Provisional Or
ganization for the Formation of
American Jewish Congress.
New York, Aug. 25, 1920.