867N.01/6–2245
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)98
If time permits, I believe that you will wish to glance at the attached … report99 which stresses the extent to which the more extreme [Page 713] elements among the Zionists in this country are gaining ground as against the more moderate leaders such as Rabbi Wise and Dr. Nahum Goldmann.
This report, which is based on information from various Jewish source takes the position that since the death of President Roosevelt and the end of the war in Europe, many Jews have become disillusioned regarding the policies of the United States and Great Britain, and this has resulted in a “mood of impatience and desperation”. Some observers say that the present situation is driving Jewish youth “into the arms of Moscow”, while others predict that there will be serious trouble in Palestine unless some concessions are made to the Jews. There is also stated to be a real possibility that the present Zionist leadership in this country under Rabbi Wise and Dr. Goldmann will be replaced by the more militant elements personified by Rabbi Silver.
While some parts of this report may be exaggerated, we have reason to believe that there is considerable truth in the claim that the extreme Zionists are gaining support among Jews both here and abroad. We have just had a talk with Dr. Goldmann, of which we are sending you a memorandum1 and which bears this out. If such a development should occur and if, as is also likely, there should be disorders in Palestine as a result of some British decision regarding the future of immigration, we might easily be faced with a very difficult situation.