The amount of $20,000,000 will be expended in developing Jewish farm settlements in Russia on a large scale, provided there is fully subscribed in this country before October 30th, 1928, the sum of $10,000,000, it was announced by James N. Rosenberg, Chairman of the American Jewish Joint Agricultural Corporation (Agro-Joint).
“This will constitute the largest single enterprise ever launched for the promotion of Jewish agriculture,” decleared Mr. Rosenberg. “I am happy to announce that the Russian authorities have agreed to provide $10,000,000, on condition that the American Jews furnish the other $10,000,000. The total of $20,000,000 will be expended over a period of ten years.
“Moreover, it is an undertaking involving an investment much larger than the $20,000,000 to be subscribed by American Jews and the Russian authorities, because the Government of Russia has agreed, if the American quota is fully subscribed, to provide free of charge land valued at $20,000,000.”
Dr. Joseph A. Rosen, who has been the chief director of the Jewish back-to-the-soil movement in Russia, left after a short visit here on the Majestic for Moscow to complete the negotiations with the Russian authorities for the administration of the new fund.
The $10,000,000 collected in this country will be administered by The American Society for Jewish Farm Settlements in Russia. The organization will continue the agricultural work initiated by the Joint Distribution Committee and carried on during the past five years by its subsidiary, the Agro-Joint.
“The present program of the Agro-Joint will be completed on October 31st, 1928,” said Mr. Rosenberg. “Its resources are already exhausted. At a total cost to American Jewry of less than $6,000,000, and by virtue of stimulating other organizations to promote Jewish agriculture, about 125,000 Jews from the cities have been settld on more than 1,000,000 acres of land.
“Yet today there are 40,000 additional families registered at our Moscow headquarters, impatiently awaiting an opportunity to leave the towns where they are unemployed and take up agriculture as a permanent occupation. It was in response to this crying need that the new plans have been formulated. It was toward the raising of the American share of the $20,000,000 that Julius Rosenwald, of Chicago, recently subscribed $5,000,000, on condition that an equal amount be raised in this country.
“The response to Mr. Rosenwald’s great challenge has been most gratifying. Without any campaign or “drive,’ we have to date secured subscriptions and contributions totalling $7,100,000. Felix M. Warburg subscribed $1,000,000. Col. Herbert H. Lehman, Louis Mar-shall, Paul Baerwald, Arthur Lehman, Felix Fuld, Louis Bamberger and others responded generously and without delay.
“There remains a sum of about $2,900,000 to be secured within the next few months, in order to enable Dr. Rosen successfully to conclude the negotiations in Moscow and to insure the promised subscription of $10,000,000 for Jewish agricultural development by the Russian agencies conducting the various general colonization activities of the country.
“The Russian authorities will match our $10,000,000, dollar for dollar. Our plan provides for an annual American expenditure of $1,000,000, to be equalled by a similar Russian disbursement. If immediate action is taken on this side to complete the fund, we shall be in a position to avail ourselves of the opportunities that are still open.”
“These opportunities,” asserted Mr. Rosenberg, “are unprecedent in Jewish history, and may never present themselves again.
“The Government will set aside suitable land in the Ukraine and the Crimea, tracts acceptable to us and adjacent to our present colonies, where we can settle over 25,000 additional families.
“The Government will continue granting to the colonists all the privileges and advantages allowed, under the prevailing law, to all new settlers. These conditions, which are of a decidedly temporary character, are responsible for the amazingly low cost of land settlement in Russia today, a cost which cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.
“1. The Government grants absolutely free of charge parcels of 45-75 acres of land, depending upon the quality, to a family of five.
“2. It supplies free timber land for cutting the lumber required for building purposes.
“3. Freedom from taxation for a period of five years is granted to the settlers.
“4. Greatly reduced rates for transportation of people, live stock and commodties are allowed to the new farmers.
“5. Our organization will continue to enjoy the privilege of duty-free importation of all tools, machinery, and other supplies necessary for the establishment of the new colonies.”
“The funds supplied by the American organization will be used as heretofore: 80-85% for loans to settlers, in the form of land survey loans, well drilling loans, live stock loans, implements loans, seed loans, building loans, etc. (These are covered by farmers’ notes); 10%-15% for agricultural instruction, medical and veterinary help, schools, and other public buildings; 5% for administrative expenses, including keeping of detailed accounts.”
The work will be carried on by the American Society for Jewish Farm Settlements in Russia, under the honorary chairmanship of Julius Rosenwald and Felix M. Warburg. James N. Rosenberg will serve as president. James H. Becker as vice-president, and Paul Baerwald as treasurer. The names of the other directors will be shortly announced. This Society will from time to time transfer the necessary funds to the Agro-Joint in Moscow, the operating organization which has been carrying on the land settlement work for the Joint Distribution Committee heretofore.
“These funds go directly to the settlers through the Agro-Joint, without any intermediaries, under the direct supervision of Dr. Joseph A. Rosen.” Mr. Rosenberg declared.
A dinner meeting under the auspices of the committee of one hundred of the Jewish Education Association will be held on June 6 at the Waldorf Astoria. Jacob Wenr. chairman of the committee, will report on the progress made towards placing the finances of the association on a permanent annual income basis with a view to dispensing with annual drives.
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