The need of investigating the possibilities of Jewish settlement in Peru (where the Prince of Wales and Prince George have just arrived in the course of their official visit to South America) was urged by Dr. Julius Brutzkus, former Minister for Jewish Affairs in Lithuania and a prominent and active worker in a number of Jewish social organisations, like the O.R.T., the Emigdirekt, and the O.Z.E., in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here to-day.
A few months back, in May 1930, a number of Jewish representatives met in Berlin on the invitation of the Emigdirekt to consider a scheme of Jewish colonisation in Peru put forward by several persons interested in a concession area granted by the Peru Government to the Bolivia Concessions Company, at which Dr. von Maltzman, one of the prime movers in the scheme, and a Jewish lawyer named Hirschberg, hither to inactive in Jewish affairs, explained their project. Privy Councillor Stern, the Chairman of the Council of the Berlin Jewish Community, was in the chair, and Dr. Brutzkus was one of the Jewish representatives present, the others including professor Franz Oppenheimer, the famous colonisation expert, and Deputy Oscar Kohn, of the Emigdirekt, stated that the Emigdirekt stood entirely aloof from the Peru project, but it wished to give an opportunity to the sponsors to present their scheme. Dr. von Maltzman, in the course of his statement, read out a letter which he had received from Professor Einstein, who wrote that in view of the desperate need of finding openings for Jewish emigration all possibilities for a Jewish settlement in a new country ought to be carefully explored. At the end of the meeting, the Jewish representatives stated that they were not altogether satisfied with the explanations given by the sponsors of the scheme, and had decided not to go any further with the matter for the present.
The question of finding new territories for Jewish immigration is obtaining increased importance with the closing of the principal countries of immigration, Dr. Brutzkus said to the J.T.A. to-day. Immediately after the Revolution in Peru, he went on, Professor Franz Oppenheimer and I went into the possibilities of organised Jewish settlement in that country, and if was suggested that an Investigation Commission should be sent out. Unfortunately, the responsible Jewish organisations took up a negative stand, not only towards the sending out of an Investigation Committee, but also to any organised measures for setting on foot a regulated Jewish immigration movement to Peru. There is no doubt about the existence of a possibility for a large settlement of Jews in this country, Dr. Brutzkus declared. Not long ago, he continued, two non Jewish Polish private societies, backed by the Polish Government, secured concessions in the Peru province of Montagna for two large areas of a million, and of half a million hectares respectively. In other countries, too, he said, in Sweden, for example, there is a systematic immigration movement being organised to Peru. But no one is taking up the question of the possibility of Jewish immigration to Peru. So far as soil and climate are concerned, there are areas in the interior of Peru which are splendidly adapted for Jewish settlement, the only difficulty being the lack of railways and suitable roads.
RUSSIAN REFUGEES IN FRANCE PROTECTED IN THEIR POSITIONS WHILE JEWISH IMMIGRANTS IN DANGER OF LOSING RIGHT TO WORK BECAUSE NOTHING WAS DONE TO SECURE LEGAL BASIS FOR JEWISH IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT THERE
Jewish colonisation in Peru cannot be considered apart from the entire problem of finding a solution of the Jewish question on a territorial basis, Dr. Brutzkus proceeded. Unfortunately, the responsible Jewish organisations have not yet realised that such a solution is possible only if the philanthropic bureaucratic system is abandoned and instead of confining themselves merely to giving aid in individual cases, immigration and colonisation activities are organised on the broadest possible basis. The activities of the Jewish organisations go at best far enough to test the possibilities of settlement, but there is no attempt made to organise a systematic colonisation movement. The organisations are unwilling to burden themselves with additional duties and they also draw the unjust conclusion that because attempts at colonisation in certain countries have failed any repetition of such efforts in other places must result in similar failure. But they do not even pay sufficient attention to the need of investigating the possibilities of new settlement. Angola, for instance, is an exceptionally good settlement area, which has very big prospects. There, too, the Poles have secured two large concession areas. On all sides we see non-Jewish organisations of all nationalities seizing every opportunity they can find for settlement, while the Jews, against whom one immigration country after the other is closing its doors, stand aside inactive, looking on while all the land still available is being occupied by others. The Russian refugees, for instance, Dr. Brutzkus said, have an excellently directed central office working in connection with the League of Nations, and among other things it has obtained the right to work for the Russian refugees in France. Consequently, the Russian refugees have been able to establish themselves in various occupations and are protected in their positions, while thousands of Jews in France are in danger of being deprived of their right to work there, because nothing was done to secure a legal basis for Jewish immigration and settlement in France.
THE SLAV SETTLEMENT SOCIETY FORMED IN BERLIN: IN THEORY EVERY POSSIBILITY OF JEWS FROM SLAV COUNTRIES BEING SETTLED BY SOCIETY DR. BRUTZKUS SAYS AND INITIATORS HAVE APPROACHED JEWISH INTELLIGENTSIA TO SECURE CO-OPERATION: NOT LIKELY POWEVER IT SHOULD HAVE PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE FOR JEWS
In reply to a question whether there is any possibility of Jews benefiting by the activities of the Slav Settlement Society which was recently founded in Berlin, Dr. Brutzkus said that the Society does not exclude Jews from the scope of its work. Its programme, he said, is to engage in close settlement of emigrants from Slav countries, irrespective of their race. The Society plans to establish Slav colonies, settled partly by political refugees from Slav countries like Soviet Russia, and partly by members of national minorities in Slav countries, where serious national conflicts exist, as for instance, in the Ukrainian parts of Poland. Each colony would have its distinctive national character, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, etc. In theory at least, Dr. Brutzkus said, there seems to be every possibility of Jewish colonies being established by the Slav Settlement Society, and in point of fact, the Society has approached a number of the Jewish intelligentsia in order to move them to cooperate with the non-Jewish organisations. But it is not very likely, Dr. Brutzkus added, that the work of the Slav Society will have any practical importance for Jews. Nevertheless, the undertaking is one which must be taken in full seriousness. The Society has already organised a joint stock company in America, with a
This shows us, Dr. Brutzkus went on, that in spite of the existing immigration difficulties, a good deal can still be done, even now, in the direction of a regulated immigration and colonisation activity. A purely industrial and town population will not be admitted into any country, he concluded. The trade unions will put up an effective opposition against any such immigration. But any colonisation on an agricultural basis will eventually provide openings more easily for the immigration also of a certain quota of town-dwelling people.
PROFESSOR FRANZ OPPENHEIMER’S ATTITUDE VERY DELICATE MATTER WHICH MUST BE TREATED CAREFULLY: NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE INVESTIGATION EXPEDITION HAS REPORTED AND AN OPTION AGREEMENT FOR SUITABLE AREA IS AVAILABLE
Asked what Professor Franz Oppenheimer’s attitude is on the matter, Dr. Brutzkus said that he could not speak for Professor Oppenheimer, but he understood that the Professor held that it was essential to find new areas for Jewish settlement, if it was possible, and that he agreed that the openings for Jewish colonisation in Peru should be investigated.
Professor Einstein, too, he said, is interested in this problem, and has discussed the possibilities of a Jewish settlement with Sir Leonard L. Cohen in London and with Professor Solomon Reinach in Paris.
Professor Franz Oppenheimer tells the J.T.A. in this connection that he regards the matter as a very delicate one, which must be treated most cautiously. In his view, a very carefully constituted investigation expedition should be sent out before any further steps are taken, and nothing further should be done until the report of this expedition is available, and a proper option agreement for a suitable area has been executed.
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