Text of Ultimatum Issued to Congress Executive by American Zionists

The ultimatum issued to the World Zionist Executive and the Committee on Committees of the Sixteenth Zionist Congress by the American delegation read before the Committee on Committees by Mr. Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America, stated:

“After due and careful consideration of the consequences that may arise from the position which it takes and with due recognition of the high Zionist interests involved, the American delegation feels impelled to make the following statement to the World Zionist Executive and to the Permanenzauschuss of the Congress. In view of the peculiar position created by the allocation of non-Zionist members on the Council of the Jewish Agency, the American delegation declares that unless the American Zionist representation on the Council is established in adequate proportion to that of the non-Zionists, the Zionists of America as well as the United Palestine Appeal will be rendered incapable of maintaining the Zionist structure and their influence in America and incapable of cooperating effectively with the American non-Zionist group in the responsibility to be assumed by the two groups for the maintenance of the Zionist position in Palestine.

“With no desire to disregard the democratic character of the Zionist Organization and the principles upon which it rests, America’s delegation must nevertheless call the attention of the Executive and the Permanenzauschuss to the fact that the principle of representation on the Council of the Agency on the basis of delegates to the Zionist Congress cannot be applied to the Organization in America in view of the exceptional emphasis placed on American non-Zionists on the Council, and in view of the important position that America is bound to occupy in the work of the Agency in the immediate future.

“Effective cooperation between Zionists and non-Zionists in America is essential for the maintenance of our position in Palestine, which depends on the equal and adequate strength and influence of both Zionists and non-Zionists in America. If such equality is not maintained the Zionists of America will be placed in a position of inferiority vis-a-vis the non-Zionists and the general Jewish public, so as to render it impossible for the Organization to assume an equal share in the responsibility which will be falling upon American Zionists during the coming years, or to use its full influence for propaganda on behalf of Palestine funds and Zionist idealism and principles.

“In view of the foregiong, the American delegation declares that unless due recognition is given to the Zionists of America in regard to representation on the Council, in adequate proportion to American non-Zionists, it cannot and will not assume responsibility for the anticipated American contribution to the Palestine budget during the coming two years, nor will it make commitments regarding remittances from America towards this budget.

“It further declares that unless the Executive and the Permanenzauschuss satisfy the above demands, the American delegation will be compelled to withdraw from the Permanenzauschuss and from the Budget Committee. These demands are not made with a view to claiming special privileges or prerogatives but in the interests of the Zionist position and for the maintenance of the Zionist influence within the American section of the Agency, so that the heavy responsibilities which devolve particularly upon the Zionist Organization of America in meeting the financial obligations assumed in behalf of Palestine may be met.”