Better Times Ahead for Palestine, Weizmann Tells London Mass Meeting

American Jews are Losing Dominant Role in Zionist Work; ‘Daily Express’ Publishes Mond’s Denial of Alarming Report (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The official view of Zionist leadership on the present situation in Palestine and a prediction of better times in the rebuilding work were expressed by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, at a huge mass meeting held Sunday night at the Pavilion Theatre, Whitechapel, the East End of London. Philip Guedalla, president of the Federation of English Zionists, presided.

A great improvement is to be expected from the inauguration of the work of building the Haifa harbor, which will stimulate commercce and industry; an easing of the unemployment situation will result from the public works ordered by the Palestine Government; the situation will also become better due to the changes in the taxation policy which will be carried out this year, Dr. Weizmann stated. These three Government measures will be a valuable help.

“It is true,” the president of the Zionist Organization stated, “that the Palestine Government has not done as much as it should to facilitate our work, but we cannot compel the Government to go as quickly as we want it to.”

The leading role which American Jews have maintained since 1920 in the volume of contributions toward the Zionist funds for the rebuilding of Palestine is diminishing, according to figures quoted by Dr. Weizmann in his address concerning the present day collections for the Palestine funds in European countries and in the United States. It appears that today the contributions coming from other countries are larger than those coming from the United States. Dr. Weizmann, in the course of his address, lashed the critics of the Zionist Organization and urged that an end be put to what is termed “loose talk” which is the result only of irresponsibility.

Philip Guedalla read a cable to the assembly which had been received from Sir Alfred Mond. In his cable Sir Alfred said that after consulting with experts in every department, he can say authoritatively that the worst difficulties in Palestine have been overcome and that the situation is improving.

A denial of the alarming report published last week by the London “Daily Express,” anti-Zionist paper, was contained in a telegram from Sir Alfred Mond which is printed in the “Express.” In his telegram Sir Alfred requests denial of the exaggerated and distorted report of the crisis in Palestine, in which stagnation had been charged.

Sir Alfred reviews the position most optimistically, declaring that the difficulties have already been overcome. He cites the fact of an improvement in the economic situation and states that the normal flow of contributions to the Zionist fund is leading to the development of industry and agriculture. No schools have been closed, the University is being extended, new endowments have been established, he declares.

“I agree with the Colonial Secretary’s speeches in Cape Town and Toronto foreshadowing the future of Palestine development which will be hastened by the most important Eastern Mediterranean harbor. This will absorb a large number of the unemployed, Sir Alfred Mond declares.

The “Express” also publishes in the same issue an extract from the “New Judea,” the official organ of the Zionist Organization, wherein Col. George S. Symes. Secretary of the Palestine administration, is quoted from addresses he delivered picturing the crisis. The “Express” also gives statistics of the recent emigration from the country and of the number of unemployed workers.