The decision to launch a national drive to collect $1,045,000 by the redemption of pledges made to the United Palestine Appeal; an encouraging message from the Palestine Zionist Executive pointing out that the situation in Palestine is constantly becoming better; and an itemized report on the financial condition of the United Palestine Appeal were the main points of the National Conference on Palestine held at the Hotel Astor, New York, all day Sunday.
The Conference, which was called by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the World Zionist Organization, was designed to discuss current problems facing Palestine. During the morning session of the conference, which was attended by several hundred delegates from all parts of the country, the following cablegram was read from the Palestine Zionist Executive:
“Palestine Zionist Executive sends its heartiest congratulations and warmest wishes to the National Conference on Palestine. The situation in Palestine is very encouraging. The dole has ceased. Unemployment is disappearing. Industry is taking firm root. Prospects of a healthy development are good. The two dark spots at the present time are the failure of crops of certain colonies involving Executive in unexpected expenditure and the fear that American Zionists will not carry out their obligations undertaken at Basle Zionist Congress. Palestine Executive calls upon and confidently expects American Zionists to make good their pledge and to play the part they mean to play in their great work of rebuilding Zion.”
The financial report was presented by Abram Liebovitz. National Treasurer of the United Palestine Appeal and prominent manufacturer of New York City, and Isidore D. Morrison, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the United Palestine Appeal, in which was reviewed the financial situation of the American fund-raising agency for Palestine. This report showed that this year’s United Palestine Appeal collections compare favorably with those of last year and the amount of administration expenses in volved in the raising effort was considerably reduced.
“The figures of our cash receipts, including the receipts of the constituent organizations,” the report stated, “show that the income for the United Palestine Appeal for the present fiscal year to date (May 18) is $1,948,812.88 compared with $2,131,248.95 for the same period during the last fiscal year.
“On the other hand, our total expenses of all kinds, including the expenses of our constituent organizations, both national, regional and local, have been $451,379.45 which compares with an expenditure for the corresponding period last year of $625,167.14 thus showing a saving in expenses amounting to $173,787.69. Thus the instructions of the administration given at the beginning of the fiscal year to keep within a twenty-five per cent limit has been fully carried out.
“Deducting expenses from income, we find that the net amount available for the purposes of the Funds being part of the United Palestine Appeal, is $1,507,433.43 this year as against $1,506,081.81 for the corresponding period last year. Therefore the net income thus far this year is more than that received last year, and we may be much further ahead by the time the Zionist Convention takes place.
“The reduction in the expenditure of the U.P.A. is evident not only in the regions throughout the country where we saved $32,325.30, but also in New York City where we saved $45,258.62 as well as in the National Office where we saved $53,950.75.
”Remittances have been made by the constituent organizations of the U.P.A. during the present fiscal year as follows:
“1) Keren Hayesod: Our commitment to the Keren Hayesod for the eight months ending May 31st is $800,000. We have thus far remitted the sum of $712,458.63. so that we have almost entirely met our obligations to the Keren Hayesod for this period.
“2) Hadassah: Hadassah has a budget of $47,175.83 per month, or a commitment of $377,406.64 for the eight months ending May 31st. Our remittances to the Hadassah Medical Organization for the current fiscal year thus far amount to $344,967.62. This represents an increase in the remittances to the HMO of $26,704.30 over the corresponding period last year. By the end of this month the increase over the corresponding period last year will probably be over $65,000.
“3) Jewish National Fund: By arrangement with the U.P.A., the Jewish National Fund is to remit the sum of $300,000 net to Palestine for the current fiscal year, the U.P.A. to make good the amount by which the direct net income of the J.N.F. from its own special collections falls short of the required total. Thus far, the sum of $124,239.24 has already been remitted to Palestine for the J.N.F.
“4) Junior Hadassah: Junior Hadassah has thus far remitted to Palestine the sum of $23,986.
“5) Mizrachi: The United Palestine Appeal has given to Mizrachi for remittance to Palestine the sum of $51,367.73, being an increase over the amount remitted for the corresponding period of last year.
“6) Hebrew University: The United Palestine Appeal has given to the Hebrew University the sum of $14,352.15.
“7) Non-Budgetary Remittances to Palestine: Non-Budgetary remittances to Palestine during the current fiscal year have amounted to $2,026.88.
“8) Specified Contributions: Specified contributions which have been remitted to Palestine amount to $110,675.
The report attributed the difference in income between this year and last year to industrial depression throughout the country and to the fact that campaigns have been delayed in various sections of the country by local leaders.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Morris Rothenberg, chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Palestine Appeal; Louis Lipsky, president of the Zionist Organization of America addressed the delegates. Judge William M. Lewis, national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, presided over the sessions.
The amount to be raised throughout the country is distributed as follows: Northern New England, $90,000; Southern New England, $60,000; New York State, $70,000; New York City $300,000; Northern New Jersey, $25,000; Eastern Pennsylvania, $75,000; Western Pennsylvania, $50,000; Seaboard, $50,000; South, $25,000; Texas-Inter-Mountain Region. $40,000; Ohio, $50,000; Michigan, $50,000; Mid-West, $100,000; Northwest, $10,000; Pacific Coast, $50,000.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
