Between the Lines

The statement made in Moscow by Dr. Joseph Rosen, head of the Agro-Joint, announcing that responsible Jewish leaders in America are interested in the possibilities of settling Jews from Poland and other countries in Biro-Bidjan will, no doubt, create great interest in Europe as well as in America.

In Europe, this statement will be especially welcomed by thousands of Jews in Poland and by many German-Jewish refugees now in exile. Hundreds of Jews in Poland and in other European countries would be ready to proceed to Biro-Bidjan if they knew that the Agro-Joint would supervise their settlement there. The mistrust existing among many Jews in regard to the Biro-Bidjan colonization under the administration of the local Soviet authorities will disappear when the work of settling foreign Jews is directed by the Agro-Joint.

PRACTICAL NEGOTIATIONS

It is now up to the Soviet government to conclude the negotiations which Dr. Rosen is carrying on in Moscow in a way that will be satisfactory to the Jewish leaders in America. Once the negotiations are over, Biro-Bidjan will have all the chances in the world to come to the forefront of Jewish life in these times when territories are being eagerly sought for Jewish immigration.

There is no doubt that the process of settling foreign Jews in Biro-Bidjan will face many difficulties during the first year, Dr. Rosen and those Jewish leaders to whom he refers in his statement are seemingly aware of these difficulties. And being aware of them, they will make every effort to meet them.

DR. ROSEN’S EXPERIMENT

There is no reason why the Soviet government should not agree to the proposals which are now being made by Dr. Rosen in Moscow. The experience which the Soviet authorities have had with Agro-Joint is proof of the fact that Jewish colonization in Soviet Russia has fared better under the supervision of that body than under the direction of the local Soviets.

In settling foreign Jews in Biro-Bidjan, Dr. Rosen contemplates starting his activities in the Far East with only several hundred Jewish families. The further success of the experiment depends on how well these families adapt themselves to their new environment, and how they are treated by the local Soviet authorities.

ENLISTING AMERICAN AID

The few hundred Jewish families who are to be settled by the Agro-Joint as an experiment will retain their foreign citizenship for a period of not less than two years. Thus, if they do not suceed in becoming oriented to life in Biro-Bidjan, they will always be at liberty to return to their native lands.

It is now up to the Soviet authorities to decide whether they wish to enlist Jewish aid from America for their colonization work in Biro-Bidjan. It can be anticipated that the Soviet decision will be in accordance with Dr. Rosen’s expectations. In this case Jewish colonization in Biro-Bidjan will, no doubt, assume quite a different character than hitherto. The prejudice existing among many Jews against Biro-Bidjan will certainly then disappear.