THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE LARGER ACTIONS COMITE
The annual conference of the Larger Actions Comite, which is held only during the year when there is no Congress, was opened in Cologne, on August 11, with an attendance of thirty-eight. Those present were: President Wolffsohn, J. H. Kann, Prof. Otto Warburg, Herbert Bentwich, Dr. Franzie- Berenstein, Dr. Bernstein-Kohan, Dr. M. Bodenheimer, Dr. Braude, Joseph Cowen, Berthold Feiwel, Jean Fischer, Dr. Friedemann, Dr. Israel Friedlaender, Dr. H. Gabel, B. Goldberg, J. L. Goldberg, Herr Gronemann, Dr. Hantke, Bezalel Jaffe, A. Idelsohn, L. Kesseler, Dr. Schmaryahu Levin, Dr. Ca- mile Levy, Dr. Mahler, Dr. Moscovitz, J. Moser, Alfred Nossig, A. Podlischewski, M. H. Schein, M. Scheinkin, S. Seeligmann, N. Sokolow, A. Stand, David Trietsch E. W. Tschlenow, I. E. Weissenberg, and Secretary Berger. Dr. Bettman, of Palestine, and Herr Kaplan-Kaplansky, of the Poale Zion were also present, but representing no recognized Federation, and shekel-payers less than the number required by the statutes for recognition as a Federation, the conference decided to receive them only as guests, but with no right to vote. Prof. Friedlaender was admitted to the conference as representative of the President of the Federation of American Zionists, whose mandate be held.
After the question of the seating of these delegates, had been settled, Herr Sokolow read the report of the Smaller Actions Comite.
The report opens with a general survey of Zionist activities. In spite of seeming weaknesses here and there, in most cases due to local causes, the Zionist ideal is progressing. Everything that has life and strength in Jewish life inevitably approaches the Zionist movement. Jewish national consciousness is awakening everywhere, which imposes a greater duty upon the Zionist organization
to marshal its strength to gather in the forces that are coming to the front.
In order to further the interests of Zionism in Turkey, Herr Wolffsohn paid a visit to Constantinople in October last, where he met with encouragement in various quarters. It is self-evident that the handling of so important a matter must not be based upon hasty political hazards and adventures, and that it must be taken up gradually and carried on systematically. The question is how to find the means by .which the Porte would be satisfied that the Zionist plans are not directed against‘ the sovereignty of the Sultan or the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, while on the other hand, to obtain for Zionism adequate guarantees for the future. The Smaller Actions Comite believes that step by step it will be able to come nearer to our goal. It expresses satisfaction at the opening of a constitutional era in the Turkish Empire for every step towards a higher civilization there must be favorable to Zionism. In diplomatic enterprises, one must always deal with institutions and principles and conditions that have attained the force of precedent; the real . basis of Zionist diplomacy lies in the force of precedent and in the logical necessity of solving our problems. The tactics to be pursued are of subsidiary importance and obviously must shape themselves according to conditions. It is a source of great satisfac- ton to us that the Orient has come to life. Our opponents were never weary of charging us with turning our eyes to a country where antiquated and retrogressive conditions must, as they thought, endure forever. The new development in Turkey points to the fact that our opponents have not understood the historical conditions in the land of our fathers.
The fact that the political conditions in Russia had proved of serious consequence to the Zionist organization there led the execu-