-AMERICAN JEWISH CONFERENCE 521 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK 17, N. Y. Telephone MUrray Hill 2-7197

OD DIGEST DF THE PRESS 10, 60 ; ._ _ lyar 31• 5705 May 4,1945

EEPOBT !EDM SAN FRANCISC0.

After disposing of such preliminary questions as procedure and membership, the United Nations Conference this week settled down to the job: of drafting the new International Organization's charter - a charter upon which the world pins its hopes for future peace and security, !,our principal commissions have b een appointed, .of reference defined ׳their heads named and their terms It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Sen Francisco Conference will not deal with a number of problems outlined in the program of the American Jewish Con- ference and, of vital concern to the Jevdsh people. The safe-guarding of group rig! ts, protection of displaced and stateless persons, reparations arid restitution do not appear on the Conference agenda. For the chief task of the Conference re- mains the building of the structure of a general, security organisation end defining the functions of the executive organs to be established. Nevertheless?, two issues of paramount interest to the Jewish world will be con- sidered by the Conference! the incorporation in some form of an International Bill of Bights into the constitution of the United Nations Organization, and the future status of as one of the mandated territories. It ought to be stressed that not all aspects of the Palestine problem may be Palestine will come up only indirectly as its status is affefeted by the ־discussed establishment of an International Trusteeship for dependent and mandated areas. We have to recognize, as many did before the Conference opened, that the United Nations parley may produce no immediate tangible results affecting the Jewish posi- tion. But, while there is no promise of immediate decisions, the presence of Jew- ish representatives in the Golden Gate City and their efforts to acquaint the delegates of the United Nations with our proposals and requirements, will lead the nations of the world to greater understanding of Jewish needs. What is important is world awareness of Jewish problems and world del emanation to solve them equitably. The ground has been carefully prepared and the spade work is being carried on tirelessly. Representatives of the American Jewish Conference are hol&irg a watch- ful vigil. Their task is obviously not limited to, and will net end with the efforts now being made in San Francisco. * * * Contrary to newspaper reports, there is little disagreement here among Jewish leaders representing various bodies. Though differences in program and organiza- tion cannot be reconciled to the point of close cooperation and joint action with the American Jewish Committee and similarly dissident groups, relations between re- presentatives of Jewish organizations are, on the whole, satisfactory and do not imply any Jewish quarrel, Declaring that "differences are inevitable," Henry Monsky told a B ,nai B'rith audience, assembled in San Francisco in his honor, that the American Jewish Confer- ence will try to minimize these differences publicly, while not foregoing its pro- gram. An American Jewish Committee statement, issued in San Francisco, answering editorial notes in our Bulletin No. 57, declares, •among other things: "It has been our earnest endeavor to coordinate our work with that of all other Jewish organiza- tions within the areas of agreement. This endeavor has been unfortunately thwarted Bulletin No. 58 Page Pive April 1758,1945.

"by the unwillingness of the American Jewish Conference representatives to meet with us in the endeavor to work out a conmon program for the San Prancisco Conference." The delegations of the American Jewish Conference and the are working closely and harmoniously, awaiting the arrival of two representatives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. * * * -by the American Jewish Conference, the World Jew־ signed ״A revised memorandum iSh Congress and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, dealing with matters of pertinent interest to the Jews, on the agenda, was submitted this past Thursday to the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference. The redrafted memorandum elimi- nates the section on minority treaties, since it appears that the United Nations Conference agenda specifically excludes any reference to League of Nations treaties. . The statement on Jewish demands, jointly issued to the press by the American Jewish Conference and the World Jewish Congress, and which indicated that the two bodies are cooperating with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, whose represen- tatives are on their way to San Prancisco, had nation-wide coverage. Leading news- papers featured the ten-point program recently publicized through Conference adver- tisements in and the New York Post. Representatives of the Yiddish and Anglo-Jewish press covering the Conference were tendered a special reception at the home of Mrs. Eva Bloch. They were welcomed by Dr. Goldstein, Henry Monsky and Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig. Mr. Monsky asked f®r Jewish press cooperation on behalf of the American Jewish Conference objectives. It was explained that the Congress and the Conference delayed release of a statement to the press, first, because they were awaiting the arrival of representatives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; and second, because the opening days were not most opportune for such a public announcement. The memorandum submitted by the American Jewish Conference to the State Depart- ment in April is being widely circulated among the delegates to the San Prancisco Conference and members of the press. Spanish and French editions have been prepared, to facilitate the acquaintance of Spanish and Prench delegates with the contents of the memorandum. * w * The delegation of the American Jewish Conference is pressing hard for inclusion in the world charter of an International Bill of Ri^ats to protect the fundamental freedoms of the individual. . Besides the Jewish groups, influential peace-planning and religious organizations favor this widely discussed proposal. It is said to have the strong support of a section of the American Delegation which also reportedly favors creation of a Commission on Human Bights to enforce the bill. This plan seems to find little approval among the prime movers of the San Prancisco parley. One of the reasons for opposition by the great powers is that it might affect, inferentially, the rights and position of colonial and mandatory powers. However, there is reason to a ssume that many delegations will support the pro- Pield Marshal Smuts, addressing the plenary session ־posal in one form or another of the Conference on behalf of South Africa, pleaded for an International Bill of Rights and for the establishment of a Commission on Human Bights. Boberto Jinenez, Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, supported the proposal of a charter to pro- tect the rights of the individual. * * * Representatives of the American Jewish Conference and the World Jewish Congress have acted this week to safeguard Jewish rights to Palestine which may be adversely affected by the proposed international trusteeship plan. They appealed to the leaders of the American Delegation and to delegations of other United Nations for explicit assurances that the existing rights of the Jewish people under the mandate shall be fully retained. י• י Page Three May 4, 1945 ־ Bulletin Kb60 Pears have been expressed in Jewish circles that the trusteeship plan, as it now stands, may prejudice the Jewish position should Palestine be considered a trusteeship base, in which case England could retain control over the country indefinitely. Leaders of the American Jewish Conference have also shown concern over the composition of the commissions to be set up shortly to handle the Inter- ׳ .national Trusteeship which will consider the ,״Committee Number Pour״ Th© full composition of trusteeship problem, has not yet been announced, but it was revealed that the chairman of the Commission will be a member of the New Zealand Delegation and the rapporteur will be a member of the Luxembourg Delegation. Commander Harold E. Stassen has been authorized by the American Delegation to deal with all matters affecting International Trusteeships. It appears that the U. S. Delegation submitted a four—point program dealing with International Trusteeships to the Foreign Ministers of the five major powers. Portions of this proposal may negate certain rights or assurances granted under Jewish representatives were assured ״earlier treaties or agreements. However that Jewish rights to Palestine would not be prejudiced by the language of the International Trusteeship clauses which were formulated by the American Delegation and will be included, if adopted, in the charter drawn up by the San Prancisco Conference. Although some counsel alertness to the danger of possible ambiguity in the phrasing of the clauses, others state that even inadvertent ambiguity is unlikely. * * * Another problem connected with the trusteeship plan is raised by the efforts of the five Arab states represented at San Prancisco to obtain a seat on the Trusteeship Commission, which is to function along the lines of the League of Nations Mandates Commission. The Arabs are now angling for a place on this Commission, even at the sacrifice of seats on other Coianissions. They also demand representation on the Regional Council contemplated for the Near or Middle East. The Arab Delegation, assisted by a staff of public relations men, has already begun to conduct a cleverly disguised anti-Jewish campaign. While declining to make any binding statement on the future of Palestine, they are utilizing to the full their status as members of the Conference. Piling with the Secretariat of the Conference the Pan-Arab Treaty, which was signed in Cairo on March 22nd, by seven Arab countries, is one of the Arab moves to secure special status in the discussion of Middle Eastern affairs. * » m Louis Lipsky, Babbi Joseph H. Lookstein and Herman Shulman left New York for San Prancisco on Tuesday, May 1st. Judge Morris Bothenberg is scheduled to arrive in San Prancisco on May 8th and Babbi Maurice N. Eisendrath will arrive on the 14th, They will enable other members of the panel who have been in San Fran- cisco for, two weeks, to return. The relationship of consultants and their associates to the American Delega- tion has never been clearly defined. They begin to realize that actually theirs is a public relations job. This week, at a meeting with the American Delegation, the consultants protested against the lack of consultation, stressing that on many fait accompli." During the discussion Henry Monsky asked״ questions they face a whether reservations have been made in the trusteeship plan to protect the exist- ing rights of the Jews in Palestine. He was assured that this matter was receiv- ing due consideration. The plan for International Trusteeship of mandated territories had been submitted to the other powers by the United States Delegation. Among those newly arrived to strengthen the Jewish front in San Prancisco are Dr. Nahum Qoldmann, representing the Jewish Agency, Babbi ,representing ^ Bulletin No. 57 Page Pour April 13,1945. the World Jewish Congress, Gershon Agronsky, editor of the Palestine Post,and Eliyahu Epstein, the latter two coming directly from Palestine. Simon E. Sobeloff, member of the American Jewish Conference, also present in San Francis- both the meetings of the American Jewish Conference panel and־ co, is attending the Joint Conmittee. Adolph G. Brotoan and Councillor A. Moss, representatives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, arrived in New York from England early this week, and have proceeded to San Prancisco on Thursday. They will participate, through the Joint Committee, in consultations with the American Jewish Conference and the World Jewish Congress. • * * Though Jewish bodies have made their presence felt through press conferences and submission of memoranda, the plight and problems of the Jews have practically not been mentioned in the plenary meetings of the San Prancisco Conference. Jan Masaryk was the only speaker to refer to the ghosts of Europe's Jews. In a fleeting remark in the course of his address at a plenary meeting, he stated that the world bows its head before the "valiant heroes of the underground, con- centration canps and ghettos." This cursory reference was the only allusion to our five million dead. The first time the word "Jew" was used publicly at the Conference was at the Sixth plenary session, when the Haitian Poreiga Minister, Gerald Lescot, spoke of their plight.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM ON TBS AIB

The program of the American Jewish Conference is being continuously presented to the American public, Jewish and non-Jewish, by regular broadcasts. On April 14th Judge Emanuel Greenberg spoke on Jewish rights to a hearing at San Francisco over Station WLIB. On April 24th Dr. A. S. Kohanski, Conference Research Director, participated in a Newspaper Guild Forum on the rights of small nations in the postwar world, with Herbert C. Pell and James Shelton,over Station WMCA. On April 26th Meir Grossman acquainted the Yiddish-speaking public with the problems facing the San Francisco Conference and proposals presented by the Amer- ican Jewish Conference and other Jewish bodies, on Station WHOM, On April 28th the Mutual Network (WOB) devoted a half hour to "A Salute to the American Jewish Conference." Raya Garbousova, •cellist, played Sol Nidre,and the station conmentator spoke on the work of the Conference Rescue Committee. 011 April 28th Babbi David Sherman interviewed Babbi Maurice N.Eisendrath, Chairman of the Conference Post-War Coranittee, on Jewish demands for justice at San Francisco, over Station WINS,

NEW YORK JEWRY IN SUPPOSE OP THE CONBEHENCE PROGRAM

The country-wide public meetings and rallies (over eighty have already taken place) in support of the program for postwar needs of the Jewish people, were climaxed on Sunday, April 29th, by a mammoth demonstration of New York's Jewry. Over sixty thousand men and women jammed Lewisohn Stadium and surrounding streets in response to a call issued by the American Jewish Conference and the American Zionist Emergency Council. Dr. Stephen S. Wise presided. Among those who addressed the rally were Senator Robert P.Wagner, Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, Babbi Joseph H. Lookstein, Hon. M. Maldwin Fertig, Louis Lipsky and Dr. Abba Hillel Silver. Bulletin No. 60 Page . Five May 4,1945.

D_I_J*AJlJL.-.0J_ P BJ. S S COM 11 E N T S THE STATE ]DEPARTMENT OWES AN EXPLANATION "Why our State Department should single out this small group (American Jewish Committee) and place it on a par with the total unit of American Jewry as a consultant at San Francisco is difficult to figure out. We have a right to ask - why? The American Jewish Conference represents two million or more ; the Committee represents about two hundred. The Conference consists of sixty national Jewish organizations, anyone of which contains from ten to a thousand times the membership of the Committee. The Conference is made up of democratically elected delegates, chosen by ballot in every impor- tant Jewish community in the United States; the Conmittee's members are entire- ly specially selected individuals. If our State Department wanted to invite organizations as such, it had every right to include the Committee. In that case, it should have also in- vited B'nai B'rith, the American Jewish Congress, the Zionist Organization, Why the discrimination? We hear so much ־Hadassah, to mention only a few concern expressed today for the rights of small nations. Are not the 5J mil- been no־ lion Jews of America, whose contribution to this war has certainly less than anyone else's, the right also to democratically choose for themselves official representatives instead of having the choice imposed upon them by the State Department? We believe that the State Department owes us an explanation. Who engineered this deal? What was the magic "Sesame" that opened the door to the American Jewish Committee? What is the reason for dealing ,under instead of above the table? It is up to all of us to raise this query sharply with Secretary Stettinius and demand a public reply. This is a democracy. The will of the people is supreme. It is better that we face this issue now instead of later. To remain quiet is to acquiesce to a blatant betrayal of our democratic will as expressed through the American Jewish Conference. There is still time for the American Jewish Committee to set aside its own ambitions and present a united Jewish front by re-entering the Conference and reflecting its opinions through the Conference's delegate, Henry Monsky. Otherwise, it must accept the responsibility for creating a chasm in vital- ly needed American Jewish unity at the peace-table. If however, it insists on following this suicidal course, we owe it to our people and to our country to make absolutely clear that only the Conference, not the Committee, speaks for American Jewry. We must take the issue to the people, confident they will respond. We must isolate the Conmittee by rally- ing more firmly around the program of the American Jewish Conference. We must demand that our leaders speak out. We must insist that the thirty Chicago delegates make their position clear." The Sentinel,Chicago, 4.26.1945.

FOR THE SAKE OF A UNITED FRONT. "The American Jewish Conference, the official spokesman of American Jewry, has aligned itself with the World Jewish Congress and the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Its representatives as well as those of the Jewish Agency should be there (at San Francisco) not as onlookers,but as actual participants. To display a unity within the ranks of the Jews, the American Jewish Commit- tee should set aside its pettiness and reenter the fold of the American Jewish Conference, so that we can present a solid and united ftont to protect the in- terests of the Jewish people." Young Israel Viewpoint,NYC. April, 1945.