Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 26

the direction of the identity of the two memberships would leadto a simplification of many existing problems. But as the actual circumstances seem to indicate that such a radical solution is impossible, especially in the countries with Jewish masses, it seems, advisable to agree for the present to a compromise that would do away with the most objectionable features. (4) The position is similar with regard to the most important problem of the mutual relations of the Federations and Separate Unions to one another, in regard to the solution of which three possibilities have so far been proposed: (1) "Joint Council" (Arbeitsgemeinschaft), (2) " Federative Council " (Dächverband), and (3) " Territorial Union " (Territorialverband). The " Joint Council " signifies the retention of the present division in Federations (horizontal) and Separate Unions (vertical) and the creation of co-operative commissions for affairs in common. The " Federative Council " aims at a vertical composition of the Organisation in autonomous ideological parties (Separate Unions), with the dissolution of the purely territorial Federations, and provides for the formation of voluntary joint bodies of the " Federative Council " for the co-operation of the parties in the spheres in which they wish to co-operate. By " Territorial Union " is understood a (horizontal) membership according to countries in which there should be one united body of all Zionists in each country, it being understood, however, that liberty of conviction and the possibility of the formation of parties on an ideological basis shall be guaranteed. At the 18th Congress we advocated the third solution (Territorial Union). The majority of the Commission and of the Congress were not in favour of this proposal, but expressed themselves in favour of a formula which, while adopting the name " Territorial Union," represented a combination of the two other solutions, the " Joint Council " and " Federative Council." The Congress referred the motion to the General Council for further consideration. The first step towards the realisation of this reform consists in the creation of the necessary clarity, to which we have contributed by a fresh formulation of our proposals and by an extensive correspondence with those interested in this problem. (5) Another urgent problem is the reform of our Congress, the aim of which should be to restore anew the importance of the Congress as a tribune of the Jewish people, to concentrate the Congress upon its most important functions, and, by improving its parliamentary machinery, to ensure that the proceedings are carried out in a dignified manner. We submitted the outlines of such a reform to the General Council in the spring of 1935, and intend submitting to the meeting immediately before the Congress revised proposals for the alteration of the Standing Orders. 26