THE PASSPORT QUESTION
Correspondence between DR. D. de Sola POOL and Dr. J. L. MAGNES
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Dr. David de Sola Pool contributed a review of the Jewish year to The November Maccabaean, in which he expressed his views of the value of the abrogation of the Treaty of 1832 from the point of view of a Zionist. In passing, he commented on the activity of the American Jewish Committee in this regard. The Maccabaean is not responsible, of course, for the views of Dr. Pool as expressed in his article. In fact, The Maccabaean is of the opinion that the American Jewish Committee is entitled to a great deal of credit for having rid itself of its preconceived ideas as to the proper method of dealing with Jewish political questions. Without entering into a discussion of the practical value of the abrogation of the Treaty, we felt that we Jews in America should congratulate ourselves upon having lived to see the leading representative Jews of this country give a practical demonstration of a Zionist method of dealing with Jewish questions, in spite of their Anti-Zionist views. We appreciated the straightforward, democratic, method of appealing direct to the people for an expression of opinion on a matter involving the dignity of American Jewish citizens. In so far as Dr. Pool's views differed from our position in that particular, we dissented from his views as expressed in his article. We are not concerned, however, in a discussion of the direct value of the abrogation of the Treaty. Primarily we are interested in the development of Jewish sentiment in the direction of nationality, and we record with satisfaction any evidence of the birth of such sentiments even in circles where strong anti-national views are current. These views The Maccabaean has given utterance to, time and again. We give below correspondence that has passed between Dr. J. L. Magnes and Dr. Pool, in which Dr. Magnes takes issue with Dr. Pool. The correspondence speaks for itself. The Maccabaean is always open to the free expression of opinion by Zionists on the various problems not only of Zionism but of general Jewish life and it hopes that those whose views may differ from those of our contributors or editors will continue to feel that this magazine is an open forum for the discussion of all questions that have a bearing on the progress of our movement. Private criticism leads nowhere. Free discussion is essential to the progress of ideas.—Ed.
1.
DEAR DR. POOL:
I must confess to my astonishment at your lack of appreciation in the November issue of THE MACCABAEAN of what the abrogation of the Russian Treaty of 1832 has meant and will continue to mean for the whole Jewish people. Are you not
aware that the manly, intelligent fighting carried on by the American Jewish Committee and other organizations, at first quietly and cautiously preparing the way over a large number of years, and then vigorously, with deadly effect when the psychological moment came, has strengthened the backbone not alone of the American