Anti-Semitic Leader Is Forming
New Fascist Group in England
LONDON (WJA)—A new anti-
Semitic body, calling itself "The
National Worker's Party," is in
the process of formation in Great
Britain. Its leader is Arnold
Leese, head of the now defunct
Imperial Fascist League. He was
interned during the war under
Regulation 18B.
Leese is the publisher of a va-
riety of scurrilous and insulting
pieces of anti-Semitic literature,
including a book of anti-Jewish
cartoons in the best Streicher
Manner.
The constitution of the new
party lays down that its princi-
ples include the expulsion of
Jews and aliens from Britain and
from public life in England. Fol-
lowing the true Nazi pattern, the
form of application for member-
ship calls for a statement as to
the nationality of the four grand-
parents. The active director of
the movement is Anthony Baron
of Woodbridge, Sussex, and the
membership so far seems to con-
sist largely of ex-members of
the Imperial Fascist League.
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOV1TZ
Meeting the Right Kind of Jews
This Commentator will have much to say about a great book
whose importance defies a single review. "Trial and Error: The
Autobiography of Chaim Weizmann, First President of Israel," to
be published on Jan. 19 by Harper & Brothers. is much more than
the life story of the ablest Jewish leader
of our time. It is the history of an era
which was marked by tragedies and dis-
appointments that finally were wiped out
by the heroism and courage of men—like
the author of this autobiography--who
knew what it meant to fight for freedom.
It is the history of one of the most signifi-
cant eras in the annals of humankind. And
it is told by a man who not only helped
create the conditions which have culmin-
ated in the liberation of Israel but who has
made great contributions to science and to
statesmanship.
Dr. Weizmann's autobiography will
have a preview beginning with Jan. 5 in
the New York Herald Tribuhe, the great
American newspaper which has had the
Ifstpl vision to purchase the publishing rights for
this great life story for serialization in its
own columns and for syndication in num-
erous other newspapers throughout the
Dr. Weizmann land. As an agricultural chemist, as the
expert in mass-produced acetone which solved the crucial World
War I cordite shortage for Great Britain. as authority in high-octane
gas production and as a developer of synthetic rubber, Israel's
President has made an indelible record in scientific history. As a
statesman acting in behalf of the Jewish people during 50 years of
his life, some of his acts will be questioned and his criticisms of men
like Theodor Herzl, Max Nordau, David Wolffsohn and Nahum
Sokolow may be condemned. But no amount of criticism either of
his dealings with other Zionist leaders or of his personal acts can
possibly detract from the magnitude of his autobiographical work,
Its splendor as history, its vast importance as a record of his own
and his people's accomplishments.
Dr. Weizmann took 17 years to write his autobiography, and he
has proven as meticulous as a reporter of his own career as he has
been as a scientist and history- raker. He had the good fortune of
securing the expert help of Maurice Samuel, the brilliant writer,
in the final revision of his book. It not only will disappoint us, it will
amaze this Commentator if "Trial and Error" is not made the Book
of the Month selection and if it does not emerge one of the leading
best sellers of our time.
The Weizmann autobiography will appear simultaneously in
editions to be published throughout the British Empire, in Spanish
editions-in Latin American countries, in Hebrew in the State of
Israel and in Yiddish translations in the Jewish Daily Forward and
in other Yiddish periodicals throughout the world.
As a mere introduction to later reviews, this Commentator
wishes to refer to two stories in Weizmann's Autobiography. The
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, December 31, 1948
Jan. 16 Set as
Jr. Divisions
Collection Day
The Junior Division Collection
Day Committee of the Allied
Jewish Campaign announces com-
pletion of plans to set aside Sun-
day, Jan. 16, as the date when it
will make a concentrated_ effort
to secure available cash for the
United Jewish Appeal, primarily
for transportation of Displaced
Persons to Israel and their settle-
ment, by collecting 1948 campaign
pledges. This is a postponement of
one week from the date origin-
ally announced.
Albert Coleman, committee
chairman, announced that there
is at present more than $2,000,000
outstanding on 1948 pledges. Mr.
Coleman stated that despite the
fact that this year's payment is
far ahead of 1947, the urgent need
for cash makes extraordinary
collection efforts necessary.
Letters are being sent to con-
tributors informing them of col-
lection day plans and enlisting
their cooperation in making cash
available for the home pick-up
on Jan. 16.
All workers in the Junior Div-
ision who gave so generously of
their time last spring during the
campaign have been requested to
assist in the collection day drive.
The committee explained that
there was a chance that many
persons desirous of helping would
not receive letters requesting
them to do so. Volunteers are
urged to call the Junior Division
at WO. 5-3939.
The Junior Division committee
includes: Virginia Barnett, Ger-
ald Danin, Tillie Feinbloom, Sam
Frankenstein. Natalie Gaines,
John Gilmore, Richard Kanner,
Beno Levi, Elaine Rubach, Lil-
lian Sobel and Jerry Stenbuck.
I We, the People' . . . in U.S. and Israel
(Continued from Page 1)
change his vote, if the lawyer could show him any book of the
Bible which did not mention God. The lawyer produced a copy
of the Book of Esther. So the supporters of the Constitution
gained one very necessary vote in Massachusetts.
The problems which faced the Constitution makers in Phila.
derphia were of course very different from those arising in
Tel Aviv. The main problem at Philadelphia was that of union.
How to get divergent states, jealous of their individual sovereign-
ides, to work together. Even in the midst of the Revolutionari
War, with the states facing the common British enemy, this
hostility and envy did not entirely subside. When, during the
Revolution, a delegate to the Congress from Pennsylvania spoke
of his state as being the heart of the Union, a delegate from
Georgia wisecracked: "Yes, it is
the heart and does not Scripture
say that 'the heart is deceitful
above alt things'."
The securing of union and lib-
erty were the basic goals of the
U.S. constitution. Today, society
is more complex. There were no
monopolies, no trusts, in the be-
ginning days of America. With
an abundance of land. there was
no problem of unemployment.
The present Israeli constitution
bears a strong resemblance to the
so-called "Pittsburgh platform"
of 1918 when Louis D. Brandeis
-was the head of the American
movement. That "platform" had
two essential points: first, the
barring of land monopoly, second,
the application of the coopera-
tive principle in industry wher-
ever that was feasible.
The Israeli constitution provides
for state ownership of the na-
tural resources. It also supports
application . of the cooperative
idea. It says nothing about land.
but land, of course, is also a na-
tural resource. The Israeli consti-
tution goes on to proclaim the
doctrine that each citizen must
be guaranteed a means of sub-
sistence.
Thus, the Israeli constitution is
highly "social-minded." A consti-
tution of Israel could hardly be
anything but that, and be true
against usury worked even more
for the benefit of the house build-
er.
The passion for social justice is
perhaps the most characteristic
trait of Jewry and we expect
much more from Israel in that
respect.
Parlor Meetings
Spurred by ZOD
In a determined effort to acti-
vate a larger percentage of the
almost 5,000 members of the
Zionist Organization of Detroit,
the program and education com-
mittee has embarked upon a se-
ries of parlor meetings with a
view toward establishing more
permanent chapters.
Under the chairmanship of
Leon Kay, a series of parlor meet-
ings in homes of various mem-
bers has been scheduled. Each
group will meet once a month for
the rest of the year.
The first of the parlor meetings
was held Dec. 14 at Mr. Kay's
home. Albert Elazar, associate
superintendent of the United -He-
brew Schools, spoke on "Israel
and Power Politics."
The committee also is planning
a series of general membership
meetings for the entire organiza-
tion, including the Simon Shet-
zer Memorial Institute on Feb.
28, to be addressed by Eliahu EP-
stein, spjcial Israeli representa-
tive to the United States.
During January the following
parlor meetings will be held: Jan.
6, at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Ira G. Kaufman; Jan. 13, parlor
meeting for dentists, at the home
of Dr. Martin Cowan; Jan. 17, at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Glasier.
Members of the committee in-
clude Mr. Elazar, Rabbi Jacob
Segal, Ira G. Kaufman. Lawrence
W. Crohn, Dr. Bernard Weston,
Nordau Chapter, Mrs. Albert
Schwartz, Haifa Chapter, and
Miss Micki Lancet, Chapter L
to itself. If we open our Bible,
we find it so full of this social
thinking, that sometimes we
wonder whether it is so much a
book of theology as of economics.
The injunction, for -instance,
against the "erasing of the land
mark of your neighbor" is simply
a law against land monopoly.
•The Law of the Jubilee when the
Nathan Ausubel, noted Jewish land was equally redivided
author and linguist whose latest among the people was another
book, "Jewish Folklore," has at- measure for this purpose. It
would prevent the concentration
tracted attention
of estates and give every person
throughout t h e
a new equal opportunity.
English - speak-
The law against usury is an-
ing world. will
other such measure. Today, the
speak here on
Federal Government helps a vet-
eminent Zionist leader—then only 32—was in England only two years Jan. 17 on the
eran build a house by giving him
tr)d had barely begun to master the English language when he first subject "What Is
met Arthur James Balfour. The man who later became the author the Significance
lower interest rates. The law
of the famous Balfour Declaration was to have spent 15 minutes with of Jewish Folk-
the young Manchester University chemical research man and lec- lore Throughout
turer, but he detained him for an hour, listening to his reasons for
opposing the Uganda proposal. He had hoped to convert Weiz- the Ages?" un-
mann; "it did not occur to him that the upshot of the interview der the auspices
By BORIS SMOLAR
would be in the contrary sense." The following now famous con- of the Jewish
versation took place after Weizmann had—"sweating blood"—ex- Community Cen-
(Copyright 194S, Jewish Telegraph= Agency, Inc.)
N.
Ausubel
plained his Zionist ideology:
ter. .
Then suddenly I said: "Mr. Balfour, supposing I were to
Born in Austria, Ausubel was Happy New Year
offer you Paris instead of London, would you take it?"
brought to this country in his
The year of 1949 holds out good promises for Israel .. . Israeli
He sat up, looked at me, and answered: "But, Dr. Weizmann,
early youth. As editor and lec- leaders expect to reach a peace settlement with Transjordan within
we have London."
turer,
he
already
has
acquired
an
three
months, despite difficulties with Egypt . . . And President
"That is true," I said. "But we had Jerusalem when London
enviable record for service in the Truman has quietly promised Jewish leaders that no matter what
was a marsh."
He leaned back, continued to stare at me, and said two
literary world. He has traveled the world situation may be. he will see to it that Israel is given
things which I remember vividly. The first was: "Are there
widely and has befriended the de jure recognition by the United States immediately after the
many Jews who think like you?"
leading journalists and writers in Isareli national elections which are scheduled for the end of January
. . . He also assured them of other forms of American political aid
I answered: "I believe I speak the mind of millions of Jews
the world.
to Israel . . . Israeli emissaries in the United States are at present
whom you will never see and who cannot speak for themselves,
As
a
translator
as
well
as
writer
hard at work behind the scene to secure, as quickly as possible, the
but with whom I could pave the streets of the country I come
of original works, he has risen to $100,000,000 loan from the Export-Import Bank . . . The question
from."
high ranks. In his latest work he of the loan now overshadows all other interests which the govern-
To this he said: "If that is so, you will one day be a force."
Shortly before I withdrew, Balfour said: "It is curious. The
emerges as a leading authority ment of Israel has in the United States • . . This is because the fi-
Jews I meet are quite different."
on the traditions and history of nancial situation of the Jewish state is such that it requires urgent
I answered: "Mr. Balfour, you meet the wrong kind of
to cover immediate obligations and to maintain economic
the Jewish people and on folk- action
stability.
Jews."
lore.
It is the type of reply like the latter that caused Dr. Weizmann
Jews planning to make investments in Israel will
His "Jewish Folklore," which soon American
to become a stormy petrel in Jewish life. hated by anti-Zionists,
find it very profitable to do so . . . The economic department
abused by opponents. But Weizmann, scientist not only in his was reviewed in The Jewish of the Jewish Agency is seeking to remove the dual exchange rate
laboratory but also in his political activities, utilized a great event News upon its appearance sev- obstacles which now prevail in Israel . . . At present the Israeli
in Jewish history to refer back to these remarks.
eral months ago, is a compilation pound is exchanged for $3 abroad and for $4 inside the country ...
Referring to the "great public meeting held at the Albert Hall of the best stories from all areas Both rates are official ... Some foreign investors would like to see
under the chairmanship of Lord Rothschild," 14 years later, Dr. in Jewish history. Brilliantly a single, stabilized rate of exchange, and the Jewish Agency, which
Weizmann states in his book:
told they indicate the sparkling promotes investments in Israel, isS working in this direction.
"This was, I think, the only occasion on which Lord Balfour
wit of the author and his ability The Same Here
addressed a great Jewish gathering in England. I dined with
as a narrator and interpreter of
him before the meeting at 4 Carlton Gardens, and as we drove
The new year also holds out good promises for Jewish activities
our
folklore. ...
from there to Albert Hall, Lord Balfour was struck by the great
in the United States . . . All organizations which are engaged in
crowds of Jews making their way to the West End. In his usual
combatting anti-Semitism agree that bigotry will decline in 1949
Jewish DPs to Settle
vague manner he asked me: 'But who ARE all these people?'
as it did in the year just concluded ... And there is great and jus-
I reminded him of what I had told him in 1906, that there were
tified optimism among Jewish leaders that the new Congress starting
On
Farms in Canada
Zionist Jews enough to pave the streets of Russia and Poland:
its session in January, will amend the DP law in a way which will
'These are a few—a very few—of them'."
NEW YORK, (JTA)—A group enable more displaced Jews to enter the United States . . . This de-
With reference to Balfour -meeting "the wrong kind of Jews,"
spite the threat of certain non-Jewish groups who blame Jewish
of
displaced
Jewish
families
will
Weizmann later learned that Balfour had written about it to Mrs.
organizations for the unfavorable publicity in the American press
Leopold Rothschild, the mother of Anthony and Lionel Rothschild. be brought from Germany to on the method of selecting DPs in Germany for emigration. . .
In 1917, Weizmann had proof that the rebuke to "the wrong Canada to be settled by the Jew- Leaders of some of these non-Jewish groups went very far‘withun-
kind of Jews" was justified. Opposition to the proposed draft of a ish Colonization Association on friendly intimations to leaders of various Jewish organizations in
Declaration for a Jewish Palestine came entirely from Jews! and the farms acquired by the JCA dur- this country . . . Nevertheless, there is good ground to believe that
Balfour Declaration, approval for which was expected in August, ing the recent visit of its general neither President Truman nor the new Congress will be influenced
1917, did not materialize until Nov. 2, 1917.
manager, Louis Oungre. All nec- by any campaign against liberalization of the present DP law which
"Trial and Error" is not a mere combination of dry facts and
Truman has termed as "anti-Jewish."
pathos. It is replete with humor—Dr. Weizmann's humor which has cessary preparations for the set-
We learn that the question of coordinating Jewish refugee serv-
tlement of the DP families have
become one of his distinguishing characteristics.
ice in America is now being seriously studied by the Council of
To read his autobiography is to experience a great thrill and been completed following Oun- Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds . . . Progress in eliminating
to re-live anew the great events of the last half century. Many of gre's negotiations with the Cana- duplication in European
migration work has been achieved folkiss•
A usubel, Noted
Author, to Speak
Here on Jan. 17
Between You and Me
•
l
have had a share in many of these events. For us it is reality.
dian authorities.
ing the recent JDC-HIAS-USNA agreement on DP immigraties,