American Jews Must Raise More Than $5,000,000 for Palestine This Year, Lipsky Declares

That the United Palestine Appeal in the United States will have to raise a larger sum this year than the original goal set at $5,000,000 was declared by Louis Lipsky, chairman of the Zionist Organization of America, in a statement issues yesterday.

The statement also dealt with misunderstandings which have arisen in connection with the formation of the Jewish Agency.

“Returning from London where I had an opportunity to meet many representatives of European Zionism and also to be in contact with conditions as reported to the Zionist Executive, I feel it important to convey to American Zionists the anxieties that arise as to Zionist conditions both in Europe and in Palestine,” the statement read.

“Due to the critical economic conditions which affect the Jews, a breakdown of Zionist support is reported from Poland. Conditions are also very bad in Germany and in Roumania. The effect is to disturb all the financial calculations of the Zionist Executive. The anticipated income from Europe, of both the Keren Hayesod and the Jewish National Fund will not be obtained. There will be only a fraction received of what was received last year. Not only will no money come from Poland, but the stream of immigration which last year included thousands of persons with means of their own, will this year contain a higher percentage of Chalutzim who will have to be aided out of the funds of the Keren Hayesod, to settle in Palestine.

“The outlook is most disheartening especially in view of the fact that the budget fixed by the Vienna Congress was much higher than that of last year.

“The shrivelling up of Zionist support in middle Europe has also had a direct effect upon conditions in Palestine. Many Polish Jews had deposited their funds in Palestine preparatory to immigration. These funds were withdrawn from the banks. The banks were then compelled to refuse to extend credits to worthy enterprises and as a result, industry has been checked and house-building is seriously affected. There are over four thousand Jews unemployed in Palestine today.

“This is a great pity because the ground work has been laid for an unusual development this year. Thousands of new immigrants could be brought over to Palestine. The conditions are there. All that is required is the necessary capital to build. The burden of the responsibility therefore falls upon the Jews of America; the one large Jewish community capable of saving the situation. All other Jewries have troubles of their own, but American Jewry is free to devote itself to the great historic task from which Jewish life would derive so much of permanent value.

“The United Palestine Appeal must secure more than the five million dollars which has been set as the goal.

“There has been a great deal of misunderstanding with regard to the Jewish Agency. One looks at the matter wholly differently after consulting with the Zionist Executive in London. There is a feeling of great disappointment owing to the undue delay in the organization of the American branch of the Council of the Jewish Agency. There is a feeling of depression more particularly, because the Marshall group has not indicated this year a reasonable interest in Palestine through cooperation in the raising of funds, especially in view of the serious economic situation that prevails in Palestine. Our friends who, in the past, have spoken encouraging words about the work in Palestine, are this year ominously silent and wholly inactive. In European Zionist circles, the question is frequently asked what sort of an interest in Palestine is this, which remains unaffected in the face of a serious difficulty, and rushes forward with enthusiasm and alacrity to engage in Russian colonization,” Mr. Lipsky declared.