£850,000 Budget Submitted to Actions Committee for Next Year; £300,000 for Colonization

A minimum budget of £850,000 was submitted by the Executive to the Actions Committee now in session here. Of this amount £300,000 would be used for colonization work in Palestine.

The possibility of settling 55,000 families in Palestine in Paein, Hule, Beisan and the land around the lower Jordan was suggested to Sir John Hope Simpson, investigator into land immigration problems, Dr. Arthur Ruppin told the Committee. He declared that he informed Simpson that this suggestion was merely an example of the tremendous possibilities for suitable colonization existing in Palestine. There are vast districts of land there, Dr. Ruppin stated, which could be procured for colonization and the Arabs on such land could be compensated and be enabled to develop other land purchased by them debt-free.

The report of the Keren Hayesod, submitted by Dr. Arthur Hantke, revealed that in spite of the large contributions to the Palestine Emergency Fund for which £240,000 was raised outside of America, the American Allied Jewish Campaign was unsatisfactory and it is most essential, the report said, to utilize the coming four months in a vigorous campaign to increase the income.

Menachem M. Usisshkin, who submitted the report of the Keren Kayemeth organization, stated that the income of that organization had been increased by twenty-five per cent from the date of the Zurich Congress until the beginning of 1930. He is proceeding to the United States on October 3 to raise $5,000,000 for the purchase of land in Palestine.

Dr. Werner Senator, who submitted the report on the budget as treasurer of the Jewish Agency, stated that of the £750,000 which was set as last year’s budget, America contributed instead of the £450,000 allotted only £210,000, £145,000 of which included loans and the contribution of Felix M. Warburg. Europe, he said contributed instead of the £300,000 assigned, only £225,000. The deficit is therefore £300,000 and it most essential that immediate steps be taken to increase the income and introduce reforms in order to lessen the calls on the budget, he declared.

Elihu Stone, of Boston, member of the American delegation of the Actions Committee meeting, informed the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the American delegation is opposed to the convening of an extraordinary World Congress this year as being an interruption of the practical work for Palestine. It is considered likely that no Congress will be decided upon for this year.