The Arab League is watching developments at the World Zionist Congress closely, it was revealed here today when Abbas Hilmi, head of the League’s propaganda department, arrived in Basle to act as an official observer. Hilmi was closely associated during the war with the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem and Rashid Ali el Gailani, former pro-Nazi Iraq premier.
A world conference of Jewish journalists opened here today for the purpose of establishing a world union of Jewish newspaperman writing in various languages. Zalman Rubashov, editor of Davar, the largest daily newspaper in Palestine, was elected chairman of the conference. Following a tribute to the Jewish writers who died during the war, Azriel Carlebach, another Palestinian editor, reported on the aims of the proposed union, including the establishment of a course in journalism at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the publication of a memorial book for Jewish journalists.
An appeal to the Congress to take action for the immediate transfer to Palestine of the remains of Dr. Theodor Herzl was being circulated among the delegates today. Dr. Herzl is buried in a Vienna cemetery.
GRANOVSKY REPORTS J.N.F. ACHIEVEMENTS TO CONGRESS
Dr. Abraham Granovsky, director of the Jewish National Fund in Jerusalem, warned a plenary session of the Congress tonight that if the Zionist movement should neglect to “reinforce the land front” in its struggle for a Jewish homeland, it might lead to defeat of the movement’s political efforts.
Reviewing the JNF’s achievements in the past seven years, he said that it had been forced “to struggle against a regime which stifled our hopes of expansion.” The future of the Jewish homeland, he continued, rests on repeal of the restrictive land laws.
Despite the difficulties it encountered, however, the JNF increased its land holdings by 400,000 dunams since 1939 and has invested $52,000,000, Dr. Granovsky reported. The constant and rapid increase of funds raised throughout the world for land purchase in Palestine is the best indication of the growth of Zionism among large numbers of Jews, he said.
Discussing the future tasks of the JNF, the managing director declared that while the political future of Zionism was still obscure, “one thing we know is that even if obstacles increase, we will continue along our way.” He disclosed that the purchase of important tracts of land in various parts of the country will be completed within the near future “to create the possibility of new settlement work along state lines.
“We will carry out our plans under all conditions and on a scale never before experienced, to make the vision of redemption a reality in our days,” he pledged. To do that, however, $36,000,000 will be required for fulfillment of the first stage of the plan, he said. Calling for “a policy marked by daring initiative,” Dr. Granovsky appealed to the entire Zionist movement to rally to give the JNF the means of expanding its activities.
An exhibition of the progress of Jewish trade and industry in Palestine during the last 22 years has been opened here opposite the building housing the Congress. Organized by the trade and industries department of the Jewish Agency, the exhibit features products ranging from fruit to mechanical and scientific manufactures.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
