Between the Lines

The Soviet government has decided to cancel 23,000,000 roubles in debts which Jewish colonies in Crimea and the Ukraine owe the government bank, cooperative banks and other credit institutions.

This decision is a part of the general cancellation of farm debts in the U.S.S.R. totalling 435,000,000 roubles. It aims to consolidate the position of the collective farms in the country.

AGRO-JOINT ASSURED

When the Soviet government first made its decision last December to cancel a part of the debts of the Jewish collective farms, the question was asked whether those debts which the farms owe to the Agro-Joint—not to the Soviet government—would be honored.

The present decision of the Soviet gives a clear answer to this question. It says that the writing off of the debts will in no way affect the Agro-Joint. The sums advanced by the Agro-Joint to the Jewish collective farms will be repaid by the Soviet government.

FUNDS FOR BIRO-BIDJAN

The explanation now given by the Soviet authorities will be met with great satisfaction by American Jews, both because the Jewish colonists in Soviet Russia will benefit if they have less debts to pay and also because the money advanced to the colonies from American Jewish funds will be returned by the government.

With the present project of settling Polish and Baltic Jews in Biro-Bidjan, the sums which the Soviet government will refund to the Agro-Joint can be utilized to a great extent to help the colonization of foreign Jews in Biro-Bidjan. In announcing that the cancellation of farm debts will not affect the credits extended by the Agro-Joint to the Jewish colonies, the Soviet has proven that it can be trusted and that any credits extended by the Agro-Joint for Biro-Bidjan will be repaid, just as the loans to Crimea are being repaid now.

ATTENTION, MR. MCDONALD!

James G. McDonald, the High Commissioner for Jewish and Other Refugees from Germany, who returned last Thursday from his trip to South American countries in search of new lands for Jews, should be interested in the Soviet announcement that it intends to admit this year 4,500 Jews from abroad into Biro-Bidjan. This announcement was made while Mr. McDonald was away on his mission to Argentine and Brazil. It opens perhaps wider facilities for the settling of Jewish refugees than any of the Rosen, director of the Agri-Joint, countries in South America may offer at this moment.

Hand in hand with Dr. Joseph Commissioner McDonald could accomplish much for the Jewish refugees if he were to start negotiations with the Soviet government along the same lines as he did with the governments of the South American countries. The opening of such negotiations would present no difficulties to Mr. McDonald since Soviet Russia is now a member of the League of Nations, which set up Mr. McDonald’s office.

COMPLETING A MISSION

Irrespective of whether many of the Jewish refugees would like to go to Biro-Bidjan or whether the number of prospective immigrants would be small, it is the duty of Mr. McDonald to investigate the possibilities of settling refugees in Biro-Bidjan, as he is doing in other territories. Mr. McDonald’s mission would not be considered completed until he has brought a definite report about Biro-Bidjan, toward which the eyes of many Jews are turned. That his negotiations with the Soviet government will meet with less obstacles than those with any other government, is certain.