Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-11-18

sec. y and n skeptic smile cnvelops
the face OF the speaker, when the Jew
lsh Agency is mentioned. These com
mcntntors do not exhibit any en-
DIR. Weizmann.
The question naturally arises. Why
il not the American Zionist engine lend
ing full steam towards the Agency,
why is there not an enthusiastic opti-
mistic atmosphere pervading Zionist
headquarters? And why, in spite Of the
boistcrous and confidential declarations
of Zionists headquarters in favor Of
the Jewish Agency. Ia there doubt and
hesitation among the American Zion
lat leaders?
The dramatic gesture of DIR. Stephen
S. Wise at the Weixmnnn welc ming
reception in New York, when the great
leader of American Zionism unreserv-
edIy accepted the leadership of DIR.
Weizmnn, wns the only hopeful official
symptom for the successful culmination,
Of DIR. Weizmann's mission. But un-
fortunately DIR. Wise's heroic words are
only the expression of n great leader
without an official position. DIR. Wise
does not and cannOt speak for the Zion
lit Organization of America. He of
course can give the tone and the I'm
petus to the Zionist rank and file, and
his words will be listened to.
But why, agnin. did not the other
speaker, including Messrs. Lipsky and
Neumann touch upon the Jewish
Agency? Is the Jewish Agency such
fragile, dangerous issue that it can
not be tackled publicly? Would it NOT
have helped IL Louis Lipsky in his vel
coming words to DIR. Weizmann had
stated he hoped TINT the Jewish Agency
would be consummated during this visit
of the World Zionist leader?
There can be no doubt that Jewish
public opinion is strongly clamoring
for united American Jewry working
hand in hand for Palestine. Negotia-
tions between DR.. Weizinann and the
Marshall group have been in progress
since the first day DIR. Wcizmann set
foot in America. IT Is quite possible
that by the time these lines appear the
American branch of the Jewish Agency
will be fait accompli.
DIR. Weizmann is more intent on the
political effect of the Jewish Agency
than on the immediate financial assist
ance it might give to Palestine. That
is why he cannot fail in his mission.
The Zoinist skeptics, however, sec in
the Jewish Agency Il collecting agency.
They can only think in figures and
budgets. They would have no objcc-
tion to accepting financial cooperation
from the non-Iionist group but are not
anxious to divide responsibility. 1t II
This short-sighted policy of some Zion
lists that has made progress in the Jew
ish Agency negotiations difficult. DR..
Weizmann has now decided that the
first step in order 10 form the Jewish
Agency is to forget all about the Pal
cstinetine budget and TO secure the
responsible interest of the important
non-Zionist group. In this way, the
Agency will perhaps have no immediate
effect on the Embarrassing activities oil
the Iionists, but it will strengthen
Zionist prestige in the political field.
DR.. Wise seems TO have understood
this. and while the official leaders cf
the Zionist Organization have not pro
nounced themselves on this subject.
there are indications that the Wciz-
mann attitude TO Jewish Agency will
prevail in American Zionist circles.
Copyright, 1926 Seven Arts Feature