-AMERICAN J E W I S H
CGNFERENCE
521 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK 17, N. Y.
Telephone MUrray Hill 2-7197
S
No. 61
AND
DIGEST
Sivan 6. 5705
DF
THE
;
PBESS
May 18,1945•
PB0GBESS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
Jewish Efforts Centered on Human Rights and Trusteeships
Two main problems affecting vital Jewish interests - protection of
Fundamental Freedoms and Human Rights, and Palestine's status under an International Trusteeship - have for the past two weeks absorbed the attention of the
united Jewish delegations in San Francisco (the American Jewish Conference, the
Board of Deputies of British Jews and the World Jewish Congress), all closely
cooperating with the Jewish Agency for Palestine.
Developments arising from discussions and negotiations at the UNCIO were
vigilantly watched and appropriate measures were at once taken to point out the
shortcomings and pitfalls of many proposals under consideration. Leading personalities of the UNCIO Co remit tees and the press, Jewish and non-Jewish, were
approached and acquainted with Jewish opinion on these vital subjects.
On April 29th, a press conference was held, at which representatives of
the American Jewish Conference and the World Jewish Congress reiterated their
demand for a hearing at the UNCIO, and outlined the ten-point program adopted
at the sessions of the American Jewish Conference and the War Emergency Conference of the World Jewish Congress.
On April 30th, the Co-Chairmen of the Interim Committee of the American
Jewish Conference addressed a letter to Secretary of State Edward R.Stettinius,
Jr., containing observations on the proposed system of international trusteeship
for dependent and mandated territories. Referring to statements made by the
late President Roosevelt, and espoused by President Truman, the letter to Secretary Stettinius requested that
"a. Any plan for an international trusteeship in succession to the
existing Mandates System of the League of Nations be sufficiently
flexible and broad in scope to permit within its framework of the
solution of the Palestine problem in accordance with the underlying
intent and purpose of the Balfour Declaration and the Palestine
Mandate.
b. Nothing should be included which would be inconsistent with or
prejudicial to the special rights of the Jewish people under the
Balfour Declaration and the Palestine Mandate and all such rights
shall be expressly preserved and safeguarded."
»
*
•
On May 4th, Joseph M. Proskauer, president of the American Jewish Conmittee,
sent the following letter to the Secretary of States
‫״‬I have been favored with a copy of the letter of April 30th, 1945,
addressed to you by the co-chairman of the Interim Committee of the
American Jewish Conference, on the subject of Palestine.
The position of the American Jewish 00ranittee about the final
solution of the Palestine problem has been stated in our memorandum
already filed with you. Nevertheless, regardless of our general
position as there stated, we are glad to express our accord with the
request of the Interim Committee that it be made affirmatively clear
Page Pive
Bulletin No. 58
April 1763,1945.
that 130 action of the San Prancisco Conference would work to the
prejudice of existing rights of the Jews in respect to Palestine
or to the prejudice of existing rights of Jews to immigrate into
Palestine.‫״‬
The American Jewish Committee's letter, which the Jewish Labor Conmittee
later endorsed, was interpreted as solidifying the Jewish front against attempts
to prejudice or curtail existing Jewish rights in respect to Palestine, which
may result from adoption of any of the various international trusteeship plana.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, the experts of the Joint Committee were working on a memorandum
containing comments on the different trusteeship plans, which would supplement
the joint memorandum on this subject, previously submitted by the Board,the Conference and the Congress.
The amendments suggested on behalf of the American
Jewish Conference were presented to and discussed with members of the American
Delegation.
It can be stated that the reaction to the Conference's principal
amendment, safeguarding existing rights under the Mandate, was favorable, and
it was also indicated that some of the other amendments would be sympathetically
considered by the American Delegation.
While it became apparent early this week that no consideration will be
given to the status of Palestine due to the Trusteeship Committee's determination to avoid discussing any particular territory, assurances were given to
Jewish groups that they need not fear any sadden changes in the status of the
Palestine Mandate‫ ״‬These assurances were based on agreement among the governments precluding alteration in the status of any mandated territory without consuiting the peoples concerned as well as the administering powers. Discrepancies
between the British and American trusteeship plans, both of which contained
clauses considered prejudicial to Jewish rights, are apparently being resolved,
and a tentative accord was expected1 during the latter part of the week.
One of the amendments agreed upon by the Americans and the British provides
that the trusteeship commission shall have the right to send inspecting bodies at
fixed intervals to trusteeship areas, unless the mandatory power can show that an
inspection at the time might create civil or other disturbances.
The vigilance of the responsible Jewish organisations and the presentation
of their various memoranda‫ ״‬dealing with concrete aspects of the trusteeship plans
and their possible application to Palestine, brought positive results.
*
*
*
Inclusion in the United Nations Charter of provisions safeguarding Human
Bights and Fundamental Freedoms was the subject of less discussion by. the Jewish
delegations because of increasing agreement between the powers on this point.
The united Jewish delegations support the Human Rights amendments sponsored by
the Big Four, with two reservations, and a supplementary memorandum, stating the
Jewish point of view on the matter, has been prepared and submitted to the appropriate commission. There is reasonable hope that many of the Jewish objectives
with regard to safeguarding Fundamental Freedoms and Human Rights to individuals
and groups0as outlined in the various memoranda, will be incorporated in the new
world charter0
*
*
»
The trend of the San Francisco Conference has made it evident that while it
is important to give the assembled delegations a general idea of Jewish postwar
problems and Jewish proposals for their solution, the main task of the United
Jewish Representation was limited to questions on the UNCIO agenda.
Thus, the activities of the Jewish delegations were centered not on public
statements and press conferences, but on Intimate contact with factors influencing
Page Three
No. 61
May 18,1945
the deliberations, the preparatory work and the decisions of the United Nations
Conference. A second press conference was held by the United Jewish Representation on Monday, May 14th, at which Henry Monsky, Co-Chairman of the Interim
Conmittee, and Dr. Nahum Goldmann gave a comprehensive review of the composition
and actions of the United Jewish Representation,
(The full text of their statements will be found below).
*
*
•
By the end of last week, most of the members of the American Jewish Conference panel were present in San Prancisco. Judge Morris Bothenberg arrived on May
10th. Babbi Maurice N. Eisendrath was due to arrive on May 15th.
Meetings of the plenum of the United Jewish Representation were held every
other day, and on alternate days the Steering Conmittee, consisting of Louis
Lipsky, Henry Monsky, Herman Shulman, Judge Morris Bothenberg, Rabbi Joseph Lookstein, Dr. Nohum Goldmann, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Mrs. Rose Halprin, David Wertheim, Councillor Abraham Moss, Adolph G. Brotman, Alexander Easterraan, Dr. A.
Pastlich, Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig, Dr. Jacob Robinson, Babbi Irving Miller,
Samuel Bronfmen and A. B• Bennett, met to consider the progress of the negotiations.
A Press Conmittee, consisting of Mrs. Rose Halprin, Mrs. Chave Cohen, I. L.
Ken en, Bernard Postal, Philip Slomovitz, Erwin Singer, Eliahu Epstein, Reuben
Zasloni and I. Silverman, is handling press relations.
The United Nations Conference is now finishing its work in San Prancisco
and some of the members of the United Jewish Representation have already left for
their homes. Rabbi Israel Goldstein has returned to New York and Rabbi and Mrs.
Stephen S. Wise left on May 14th.
LARGEST JEWISH ALLIANCE IN HISTORY AT SAN PRANCISCO
United Jewish Delegation Reports to the Press
At a press conference sponsored in San Prancisco on May 14th by organizations representing the majority of the Jews in North and South America, Great
Britain, Continental Europe and Palestine, the largest alliance of the Jewish
people ever to present its demands to an international conference, Henry Monsky,
American Jewish Conference consultant to the American Delegation, summarized
the program and activities of the united Jewish groups at the UNCIO.
At the outset, Mr. Monsky declaredi
"The multiplicity of statements on the interests of the Jewish people in
the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and the confusion in press reports, makes pertinent the observation that this press
conference is sponsored jointly by Jewish organizations which together
represent the great majority of the Jewish people in North and South
America,Great Britain,Europe and Palestine. This is the largest alliance
of the Jewish people ever united in representations to an international
conference.
"The agencies and organizations represented here include the Jewish Agency
for Palestine, the American Jewish Conference, the Board of Deputies of
British Jews, the World Jewish Congress and three of its many affiliates,
the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Central Jewish Committees of Mexico
and Argentina.
"The American Jewish Conference is the over-all democratically organized
representative of the overwhelming majority of the Jewish people in this
country. Its duly elected delegates come from 379 Jewish communities in
Page
^ Bulletin No. 57
Pour
April 13,1945.
the United States and 60 major national Jewish organizations, which
include ‫־‬both ‫״‬Zionists and non-Zionists in their ranks.
,1
The Board of. Deputies of British Jews is the representative "body of
British Jewry and has been in existence since 1730.
"She World Jr-w!ah Congress, established in 1936, is a representative
body of Jewish groups and conraunities in 40 countries the world over.
"These organizations are giving their united support to the creation
of an International Organization which will assure lasting peace and
security."
Speaking of the program adopted by the united Jewish groups at the UNCIO,
Mr. Monsky»3 statement affirmed that they all favored an International Bill of
Eights to give assurance that the Jewish people, together with all other peoples,
might live in peace and security wherever they reside. The overwhelming majority of the Jewish delegates and organizations also support the implementation of
all existing rights of the Jewish people in respect to Palestine under the Balfour
Declaration and the League of Nations Mandate, and the re constitution of Palestine
as a free and democratic Jewish Commonwealth.
,,
Some of the organisations affiliated with the ,America!! Jewish Conference
have taken no position as such on the Jewish Commonwealth question," said
Mr. Monsky. "Among these are the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
and its affiliates. These groups, however, participate in our work in
the areas of major postwar problems, on which there is complete agreement,"
*
*
»
Jewish Views on Amendments to Dumbarton Oaks Proposals
* •
‫׳‬.•*•,
Analyzing the amendments to the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals which relate specifically to Human Eights .,and fundamental freedoms, the statement, while asserting
Jewish support for the amendments, pointed to the weaknesses which detract from their
effectiveness.
. *
*
On the subject of the amendments, the statement reads5
"We have urged that these amendments, gratifying though they are, be enlarged
so as not only to promote and encourage respect for Human Sights and Pandamental Freedoms, but also to protect and safeguard those Rights and freedoms,
"We believe that these amendments supported by the four sponsoring powers and
including thg important recommendation for the establishment of a Commission
on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, with certain specific powers and
jurisdictions in the General Assembly relative thereto, represent definite
progress toward a new world order based upon justice and equality. But we
must call attention to weaknesses which operate to detract from their effectiveness,
"1,
The language of the new amendments calls for the promotion and encouragement of respect for Human Right© and Fundamental Freedoms, While
this will help in establishing universally accepted principles and standards
of the rights of man, the protection of these rights through international
cooperation ‫׳‬is of equal importance. We have, therefore, in our memorandum
to the UNCIO, strongly urged that the words ,?and protection of" be added in
all sections of the charter dealing with Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
"2.
One of the new amendments provides that matters "essentially" within
the scope of domestic jurisdiction be outside .of the scope of the new United
Nat ions Organization, In the original Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, the word
that was used was "solely" instead of "essentially."
We believe that this
change is a •serious step backward.
The word " essent ially41 may be int erpreted in such a way as to make it
!!!possible for the new United Nations Organization to intervene in many
Bulletin
No.
1766
Page Five
October
19, 1945.
marginal cases, where Human Bights and Fundamental Freedoms are impaired.
Under such circumstances, the Organization may he powerless to halt
nations which embark on domestic programs flagrantly violating and totally disregarding Human Bi^ats and Fundamental Freedoms. Our tragic experience during the rise of Nazism ani Fascism, which was a prelude to
war, is a case in point•
"We have therefore urged the UNCIO to restore the word "solely" in place
of the word "essentially" in the domestic jurisdiction clause, so that it
will reads 8Nothing contained in this charter shall authorize the orgaaization to intervene in matters which are solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the state concerned‫'״‬0‫״‬
•
*
*
A memorandum suggesting important changes in the proposals on human rights
and freedoms;, Mr‫ ־‬Monsky stated, has been submitted to the UNCIO, under the sigatttures of the American Jewish Conference, the Board of Deputies of British Jews
and the World Jewish Congress‫״‬
Other activities of the Jewish organizations united at San Francisco include
the submission of proposals that would safeguard and preserve the rights of the
Jewish people with respect to Palestine under the existing League of Nations Mandate. "These proposals we deem to be the inoperative dictates of justice," said
Mr. Monsky‫״‬
"The Jewish Agency for Palestine," he continued, "has submitted a memorandum
to the members of the Trusteeship Committee of UNCIO, commenting on the various
trusteeship proposals and urging amendments to safeguard the rights of the Jewish
people in respect to Palestine‫״‬
All of the organizations represented here join
in supporting the position of the Jewish Agency in that regard.
As consultant to
the United States Delegation and on behalf of the American Jewish Conference, we
have submitted a memorandum addressed to its proposals requesting such safeguard
clauses."
*
•
*
Jewish Agency Memorandum on Trusteeship
Dr‫ ־‬Nahum Goldmann. who spoke at the press conference in behalf of the
Jewish Agency, declared8
"The Jewish Agency for Palestine, which is internationally recognized
under the mandate for Palestine as the guardian of the interests of the
Jewish people in all matters relating to Palestine, has submitted a
supplementary memorandum to the UNCIO, urging specific amendments to the
trusteeship proposals.
"An examination of the various trusteeship proposals reveals that the
definition of the purposes of the trusteeship is couched in general terms.
As a result, adequate allowance is not made for the unique character of
the Palestine mandate0 In our memorandum, we have offered the following
five proposals g
"1.
To include in the chapter of the charter of the United Nations
dealing with international trusteeship a clasase designed to preserve
existing rights acquired under the Mandates System of the League of Nations.
"2. To ®enter responsibility for the transfer of the League of Nations
Mandates to the authority of the United Nations in the hands of the permanent members of the Security Council (UNCIO) together, in the case of
any particular territory held under Mandate by a United Nation which is
not a member of the Security Council, with the nation holding such mandate.
"S. So to define the beneficiaries of the trusteeship system as to take
into account the rights of the Jewish people as a whole to Jewish immigrartion and settlement in Palestine.
Bulletin N o 6 1
‫־‬
3?age Six
May 18j1945.
"4. To qualify provisions for non-discrimination or the 3open door'
in regard to trusteeship areas by imposing requirements of reciprocity.
M
50 To vest the General Assembly and the Social and Economic Council
with powers sufficient to enable them to carry out their supervisory
functions in regard to trusteeship areas j and to create a trusteeship
council commanding confidence and authority, and capable, further, of
developing a comprehensive and consistent system of trusteeship law‫״־‬
BOARD‫ ״‬CONFERENCE‫ ״‬CONGRESS BENEW AGREEMENT FOB CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION.
Decide to Secure Cooperation Other Jewish Bodies
After reviewing the events of the past months and the activities of the Joint
Committee, presently functioning in San Prancisco, leaders of the American Jewish
Conference, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the World Jewish Congress, at
a meeting on May 14ths renewed the agreement to continue close consultation and cooperation with a view to attaining their conroon objectives affecting postwar Jewish
needs.
Judge Morris Bothenberg, Chairman of the Conference's Conmittee on United Jewish Represent at ions pr es ided ‫ ״‬Louis Lipsky, Henry Monsky and Judge Bothenberg represented the American Jewish Conference, Adolph G. B rot man and Councillor Abraham Moss
represented the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and Alexander Easterman, Dr ‫־‬Nahum
Goldmann and Babbi Irving Miller represented the World Jewish Congress.
The resolution adopted reads as fo Hows §
"It is agreed by those present, on behalf of their respective organizations,
to wits the American Jewish Conference, the Board of Deputies of British Jews
and the World Jewish Congress, to continue the existing arrangement for close
consultation and cooperation for the purpose of attaining their common objec- ‫־‬
tives affecting postwar Jewish needs.
"It is further agreed t h a t i n line with the invitation heretofore extended
by the three cooperating organizations to the South African Jewish Board of
Deputies and the Jewish Conmunity of the Soviet Union, efforts shall be continued to secure the cooperation and consultation of such other Jewish ‫־‬bodies
as are in agreement, with the general policies of this Joint Coranit tee‫״־‬
The Joint Committee‫ ״‬in which the three cooperating organizations are represented,
has agreed to meet again in New York at the conclusion of the San Prancisco Conference,
to consider and outline further common action.
The initiative for establishment of the Joint Committee for consultation and coordination of Jewish representative bodies in various countries was taken at a meeting
held in New York in January‫־‬
The Executive Committee of the Conference, at its meeting on January 25th,
approved the proposal that a committee shall be set up of representatives of these
three Jewish bodies (the American Jewish Conference, the Board of Deputies of British
Jews and the World Jewish Congress) to work out the means whereby consultation and coordination among themselves and such other Jewish bodies as are in agreement with their
general policy may be most effectively secured.
The resultant Joint Comnittee has been functioning since, and during the United
Nations Conference in San Prancisco it has jointly presented memoranda to the Secretary
iat and Delegates of the Conference.