The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-06-04
CONFERENCE OF JEWISH
ORGANIZATIONS.
New York City, May Is, 1920.
To the Delegates to the American Jewish


To the Delegates to the American Jewish
Congress:
Dear Sir: We are addressing you as del
egate to the American Jewish Congress
%so nas been zen BY the peo
Is expected to carry out the wishes and
aspirations OF the large masses Of our
The American Jewish Congress is to
reconvene in Philadelphia on May 3Oth,
1920, ito receive the report OF the Dele
cation" to the Peace Conference and "to
present such other business as may come
before IT, and we assume that every
delegate will readily fulfil his first duty
Of coming promptly to the opening Of the
Congress and OF attending all Of the ses-
sions to be held.
The Congress was originally convened
In December. 1918, on the basis Of an
in Jewry calling for restricted program
Of work for the securing Of "fuil rights
for the Jews OF all lands" and the abroga-
tion OF ''all laws discriminating against
them" these full rights being deemed to
a. Civil, religious and political rights
and in addition thereto
(2l Wherever the various peoples Of
any land are or may be recognized as hav-
ing rights as such, the comforting upon
like rights, II desired by them as determ-
ined and ascertained by the Congress.
G The securing and protection OF
Jewish rights in Palestine.
tion by this body "of any general theory
or philosophy Of Jewish life, or any theo-
retical principle OF a racial political, eco
nomic or religious character. or which
shall involve the perpetuation Of such
Though great and important changes
previously unforeseen and requiring fur
ther united action have taken place with
regard to the situation OF our brethren In
and though a political event Of unparai-
leled significance occurring before the
converting Of the Congress has brought
about practical annulment OF Article 3
OF this agreement. we understand that 1t
Of the other officers OF the American jew
ish Congress to abide by the agreement
entered Into under difficult wartime con-
ditions and to refuse to consider the
ency OF the Congress and involving the
consideration Of vexing problems In Jew
ish life.
This creates situation which requires
careful and thoughtful consideration on
the part OF every delegate as to future
steps. We submit that the march Of world
events beyond our control has upset hui
man calculations and that many previous
decisions and agreements have been
thrown into the background by oeeurren-
The opposition Originally manifested to-
ward the securing OF national and minori-
~ rights for the Jews OF Eastern Europe
has now lost all meaning In the face OF
the acceptance OF this principle by the
Allied and Associated Powers assembled
at the Peace Conference and by the new
and enlarged States involved The fear
that the Congress may have committed
any OF Its members or constituent bodies
life" can no longer be a binding factor
II fear should at any time be determin-
ing influence. The nations have recog-
nized the Jewish national identity and
the aspiration for Palestine rs the Jewish
National Homeland has been legally sane
toned by them
As to any Jewish group endeavoring to
force upon the Congress .'any. theoretical
principle Of a racial, political, economic
was always Always Sery remote and i Is further
than ever from the intentions OF those
sincerely interested In employing the Con-
gress as q means OF summoning Jewish
entrgy and strength for the protection OF
our brethren abroad and for the further
ance OF their welfare.
The objection to prepetuating the Con-
gress or continuing such OF Its work as
the circumstances make necessary was
Der Of the adherents Of the Congress-
movement and now become less compre-
hensible than ever as the Jewish situa-
tion In Poland, Roumania, Hungary and
Ukrainia. etc. continues to be so critical
and the authorised representatives OF the
Jews OF Eastern Europe urge the contin-
uance OF our political as well as relief eff
forts In their behalf.
Our first obligation Is that which we
have TO the Jewish people and In face Of
the precarious condition Of millions OF
Jewish men and women II seems, to say
the least, strange to insist upon the tech
nicalities OF an agreement which was new
er fully justified by the facts and condi-
lions In Jewish life Should the chairman
and other officers OF the American Jew
ish Congress place the amenities between
several Jewish organizations above the
more binding ties and urgent duties rest
ing upon the Jewries OF the different
lands and carry out the agremnt to the
letter Of the law II will behoove the dele
gates TO ind other means Of continuing
the labors for the furtberance OF which
this Congress was called into being and
which are as yet far from having been
completed.
The Chairman Of the Congress has de-
clared at the last session Of the Congress
and subsequently that after this Congress
adjourns nothing Is to prevent the dele
gates there gathered from having another