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Executive, and Ben-Zion Mossinson, a member of the General Zionist Council and
one of the directors of Keren Hayesod, joined the Einsteins in Plymouth on board
the TSS Rotterdam. Weizmann complied with Blumenfeld’s advice, and in his
interactions with Einstein during the ten days of passage refrained from attempting
to “turn him into a
Zionist.”[20]
It appears that no detailed arrangements had been
made concerning Einstein’s schedule. It was expected that he “will be prepared to
address small but influential private gatherings, or to approach important individu-
als who are likely at all to sympathise with the cause of the University, provided a
list of such individuals is available in
time.”[21]
In a cable from on board ship, Weiz-
mann asked the American Zionist leaders for information on the “arrangements
first few days” and “[w]hat are plans for Einstein?” Three days before their arrival,
concrete plans had still not been forged.
[22]
As for Einstein himself, upon arrival
in New York he arranged with Princeton University to deliver five lectures there
during the second week of May, and hoped to establish further contacts with Amer-
ican scientists (Doc. 115).
On 2 April, the delegation arrived in New York, where it was welcomed by rep-
resentatives of the mayor’s office. As they proceeded uptown in a motorcade
through the Lower East Side to the Hotel Commodore, they were greeted by large
and enthusiastic Jewish
crowds.[23]
At a reception by the ZOA held at the Metro-
politan Opera House on 10 April, Weizmann delivered a grand speech. Einstein did
not speak at
all.[24]
Two days later, 20,000 people “turned the … [69th Regiment] Armory into the
scene of a near riot.” The crowds shouted, waved “Jewish and American flags,” and
“stormed the police lines.” The “demonstration” was organized by “[m]ore than
eight hundred Jewish organizations. … It was the people’s welcome to their lead-
ers.” Here again, following Weizmann’s speech, Einstein “made the briefest speech
of the evening, when he said: ‘Your leader, Dr. Weizmann has spoken, and he has
spoken very well for us all. Follow him and you will do well. That is all I have to
say.’”[25]
But the delegation’s visit caused a political dispute within the City Coun-
cil of New York. The freedom of the city, initially refused, was eventually conferred
upon Weizmann and Einstein, over the objections of Alderman Bruce M. Falconer
(Doc. 121).
The various parties involved in the American tour had divergent agendas and
expectations. Weizmann had wanted Einstein to bolster the fund-raising efforts for
the Hebrew University and, to a lesser extent, for the Keren Hayesod. Solomon
Ginzberg, secretary of the ZO’s University Committee, hoped that Einstein would
advocate for the nonideological nature of the university project, heighten its appeal
to wealthy non-Zionist Jews, and contribute to the establishment of University Aid