2,000 Increase in Jewish Immigration to Argentine

In spite of the immigration restrictions imposed by the Argentine Government towards the end of last year, there was an increase of Jewish immigration to the Argentine, 2,000 more Jews than in 1927 having entered the country, states the report for 1928, submitted to the meeting of the Executive of the United Jewish Emigration Society Hicem (Hias-Ica-Emigdirekt), held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Oscar Kohn. Dr. James Bernstein, Dr. Joachimsohn, Dr. M. Krainin, Professor Mittwoch, Leo Motzkin, Edouard Oungre, Dr. J. Stern, J. Lestschinsky, and J. Dijour were present at the meeting.

This increase in immigration, the report says, is due to the increased activity of the various immigrant aid, labor employment and credit institutions, as well as the institutions for the lingual and technical training of the Jewish immigrants established by the Hicem in the principal countries of South America during the past year.

Apart from South America, the Hicem carried on a strenuous activity in countries where immigration is subject to restrictions, in order to promote Jewish immigration there as far as possible. Particular mention is made in this regard of the work of the local committee in France in placing Jewish immigrants mostly coming from Poland in agricultural activity in France.

Important work was also carried on in the countries of emigration. More than 30,000 Jewish emigrants applied during 1928 to the various Hicem committees in Poland, Roumania, Lithuania, Latvia, Danzig, Belgium, Holland and France for information and assistance. Legal and consular aid was provided in more than 10,000 cases. Considerable reductions were also obtained for emigrants on their train and steamship fares.

Satisfactory results were attained in the work of training emigrants in the languages of the countries to which they intended emigrating. About 750 emigrants completed the courses in English and Spanish. The experiment of agricultural and technical training was also continued in the past year. The results so far obtained do not make it possible to draw final conclusions from the work, so the experiments will be continued this year.

Dr. M. Krainin reported on the budget plan for 1929, which was adopted. A report was also submitted on the situation with regard to the special $40,000 fund for credit aid in the countries of immigration; $26,880 of this fund, it was stated, having already been assigned to various credit institutions in the Argentine. Brazil, Uruguay and Australia. The Executive decided to make a number of special assignments, including £300 for a group of 60 Chaluzim who have with the assistance of the Hicem completed their agricultural training during the past year and are now proceeding to Palestine.

Edourd Oungre reported on the steps taken by the Directors of the Hicem to facilitate Jewish emigration to Canada and Australia. He also reported on the present position of the Jewish refugees in Constantinople. It was decided to allocate £1,000 each to the Jewish organizations in Melbourne and Sydney as a fund to provide loans to Jewish immigrants. It was also decided to give a subsidy of $6,000 to the Canadian Committee for its work.