The Maccabaean

A NEW MONOPOLY IN JEWISH LEADERSHIP.

—An international Jewish committee has been formed, or is about to be formed—one does not know exactly, because the whole affair has been conducted in secret—by the leaders of various philanthropic associations, whose purpose is to help the Jewish people in goluth by the same old goluth methods. The organization is to consist of two delegates from each of the following: The Jewish Colonization Association, the Alliance Universelle Israelite, the Hilfsverein der Deutchen Juden, the American Jewish Committee, the Austrian Allianz, and a joint committee representing the Anglo-Jewish Association and the London Board of Deputies. The Zionist organization, it is understood, was not invited. The plan seems to have emanated from Mr. Jacob H. Schiff, but he seems to have been out-maneuvred by the Alliance, which, by the introduction of its own subsidiary organizations, will have a majority of the votes.

THE HILFSVEREIN AGAINST THE ALLIANCE.

—It appears that two plans had been proposed; one, by the Hilfsverein, suggesting the formation of a permanent union; the other, put forward by the Ica, a conference of organizations to be called together in case of need only. The Anglo-Jewish Association supported the Ica. It now appears that the Hilfsverein will insist upon its proposition, and that it may attempt the organization of another international committee. Mr. Zang-

will has issued a letter in which he favors the Hilfsverein's plan. Dr. Jacob Klatzkin, formerly with the National Fund, now in Russia for the Hilfsverein, has sent out a letter in which he dubs the Alliance's committee a "pseudo union of Jewish organizations," and indicts the parties engaged in creating it as having fraudulently arrogated to themselves the designation of "International Jewish Committee"; he calls upon all Jewish national bodies "to protest against the insult aimed against them." The Jewish Chronicle, with its usual carefulness, thinks that the Ica's or the Alliance's scheme is obviously experimental, and that it may pave the way for a more intimate and regular combination. This "half-way" house, however, is a cul de sac, from which there can be no escape, once it is entered. Should an "ugly wrangle" ensue, as the Jewish Chronicle fears, then the Alliance must shoulder the blame. The American Jewish Committee, it seems, has not been called upon to take action, but it will probably follow Mr. Schiff's lead, and Mr. Schiff, it is said, favors the Alliance's plan, although he objects to the preponderance of French influence.

THE ALLIANCE MISSION IN RUSSIA.

—WITH its usual impertinence and disregard of public opinion, the Alliance Universelle Israelite has taken steps to secure legalization in Russia, without consulting the persons most interested, to wit, the Russian Jews, in this instance. The German representative of the Alliance has been negotiating for some time past with the Russian Govern-