The Maccabaean

First Session

First Session The first session of the Twentieth Annual Convention of the Federation of American Zionists, which was the largest gathering of representatives of the Zionist Movement that has so far met in the United States, was held on Sunday afternoon, June 24th, at the Academy of Music.

noon, June 24th, at the Academy of Music. The Convention may be said to have started on Friday morning with scores of delegates arriving and Baltimore a sea of Blue and White and the Jewish flag fluttering from the flag poles of the City Hall. On Saturday morning, several addresses were delivered in the local synagogues, notable being the sermon delivered by Dr. Joseph Krasuskopf, of Philadelphia, one of the pioneers of the reform movement of this country and a recent convert to the Zionist cause. In the evening, an informal reception was tendered to the delegates at the Baltimore Hebrew Institute.

The solemnity and seriousness of the moment at this juncture of Jewish history swayed the delegates and guests who filled the Academy of Music to capacity at the opening session. Dr. Friedenwald, President of the Federation, formally opened the convention and introduced Mayor James H. Preston, who welcomed the delegates on behalf of the city. Mayor Preston declared that one must recognize the splendid national aspirations fostered by the Zionist movement and that the ideal of a national home for the Jewish people who have contributed so much to civilization and to the progress of the world, is a noble one. Jews are entitled, he said, to a rallying point about which Jewish ideals and culture may cluster and to self-government in their own land.

As the Mayor was closing his address, Mr. Justice Brandeis appeared on the stage. This was the occasion for an ovation that lasted several minutes. The entire assembly rose in tribute to the honored guest, who bowed and acknowledged the greeting.

The next speaker was Mr. Leo Motzkin, who greeted the convention on behalf of the Greater Actions Committee. He recounted the great difficulties the Zionist Organization had to meet at the outbreak of the war. The International Zionist Organization, he said, was torn asunder, but the spirit of Zionism remained intact during this harrowing war, and contrary to all expectations was reinvigorated with new forces in Jewish life. The enemies of Zion strived with all their might to impede the Zionist movement by the insinuation that Zionism is a peril to the interest of the Jewish people and because of its politics deprives the Jews of their rights in the countries in which they live. If the Jewish rights are to be obtained.

Speaking of the “near converts” to the movement, Dr. Wise said:

“I know not whether to be rejoiced or a little perturbed by the circumstance that great numbers of our fellow-Jews have become ready to hit the Zionist trail. The doors of the Zionists will always remain open. The doors will never be shut. Zionism is as ready today as it was twenty years ago to welcome any man who is prepared to subscribe, not to his own theory about Zionism, but to the Basle Program.

“I can see that the leadership of the movement, may, on the morrow, pass into other hands. And I think you will understand me when I say that those who for a time are being burdened with the task of leadership, would thank God if on the morrow, it were possible for them to commit or to share their task with other hands. No one, as far as I know, has any desire to remain leaders of the Zionist movement.

“I am speaking with perfect frankness at this time, but let me warn you against making peace with those who are not of us, nor with us, nor for us, when victory

at the expense of our national aspirations, we do not want such rights. But we knew our opponents were informers and we dealt with them as such.

dealt with them as such. Turning to the political situation and of the possibility of an early realization of the Zionist aims, Mr. Motzkin said:

the Zionist anns, Mr. MOTZKIN said. "We are now on the verge of realizing the twenty-century-long hope. We need all the forces we can muster. But, I must solemnly declare, we must stand by the sacred principles laid down in our program. We cannot surrender one inch of it. The Zionists have never monopolized Zion and the Zionist movement has always been and remains a movement of the people, and we extend a hearty welcome to those who desire to come into our midst and co-operate with us. But those who come must come whole-heartedly. We shall make no compromise. Let us be frank. What we demand is not rights in Palestine, but recognition of our right to Palestine, and those who stand for that platform, no less and no more, are welcome into our ranks."

Amid great applause, Dr. Wise began his address by giving a brief review of the progress of the Zionist Organization in this country during the past twenty years. He then turned to the Congress movement and declared that the Zionists will stand by the solemn agreement entered upon with the other factions in American Jewry and will not violate its solemn pledge as did those who withdrew from it at a time when the Congress was about to be convened.

is almost in sight. We should not be prepared to surrender—and of course by surrender I mean compromise—for in the world of moral principles, compromise is surrender. We should not be prepared to compromise if the difficulties were ten times as great as they are; if the opposition were mightier than it is today.

“The one thing, I confess, I cannot understand is the attitude of men within our ranks, not merely tolerant, not merely hospitable, not merely latitudinary, a latitude which is not a sincere Zionist attitude, but is typically opposed to our own attitude. Those men, who for the sake of Sholom, the most abused word in Jewish history, are willing to surrender principles, without the attainment of which Sholom becomes nothing more than merely death.”

Dr. Friedenwald then read his annual message in which he reviewed the progress of the movement during the past year and gave a clear presentation of the circumstances that led to the present political situation with regard to Palestine. He ended his message with the following words, which contain the important information with regard to the conference between Clarence de Sola, president of the Canadian Zionist Federation, and the Hon. James A. Balfour, head of the English mission to this country:

“We have lived to see the hour when the dawn seems breaking. The great revolution in Russia gives us every reason to hope that that sad chapter of our history, that nightmare of anguish and suffering is ended. A brighter and a happier time is in store for millions of our brethren. For this we are profoundly grateful.

“The assurances of sympathy and aid in the Zionist undertaking, which the great governments of England and France and Italy have given us, fill us with well-justified hope. You are all familiar with the remarkable statement bearing upon this matter, recently made public by Professor Weizman, the President of the Federation of English Zionists. During his visit to America, Mr. Balfour summoned Mr. Clarence I. de Sola, of Montreal, the President of the Canadian Zionists, to a conference, and I am in a position to state that this conference was fraught with the most gratifying and encouraging results, results that will have a far-reaching influence on the future national aspirations of our people. We have reason to believe that our own Government will not withhold its sympathy and its aid, should the opportunity come. “Situation has come upon at this great hour.

“Standing before you at this great hour in our history, I feel some of the trepidation which came over our fathers amid the thunder of Mt. Sinai; I am inspired by the