Fortified with the enthusiastic endorsement by 600 of America’s most influential and wealthiest Jews, Jewish leaders here continued their conversations today with Sir Herbert Samuel, Lord Bearsted and Simon Marks of England on details of the plan which will enable 25,000 Jews annually for the next few years to emigrate from Germany to Palestine and other countries.
Endorsement of the project was given last night at Temple Emanuel at a reception to the three noted British Jews by the Joint Distribution Committee.
A resolution, presented by William Rosenwald and unanimously adopted, pledged cooperation in the effort to raise $15,000,000 throughout the world. The resolution concludes with recognition of the fact that the plans in no way “contemplate or include any measures which will aid or facilitate in the export of German goods,” adding that this assurance is regarded as “an essential condition.”
That the sum of $15,000,000 had been definitely agreed upon as required to execute the plan was disclosed for the first time by Mr. Marks. Mr. Marks also revealed that the Jews of England, Holland, Belgium, France and other European countries were undertaking to raise one third of this sum, with the other two-thirds to be supplied by American Jewry. Previously, James Rosenberg, vice-chairman of the J.D.C., presiding at the reception, disclosed that Lord Bearsted and Mr. Marks were among four British Jews who between them had pledged more than $1,000,000 toward this fund. Later, James McDonald, former High Commissioner for Refugees, said Mr. Marks had pledged to him personally that he would contribute $500,000 to the fund. A like sum is understood to have been pledged by Lord Bearsted.
Urging American Jewry to “become partners with us,” in the project to raise the $15,000,000, Mr. Marks asked if there weren’t in America thirty Jews who would undertake to match contributions with Lord Bearsted.
In his address, Sir Herbert reiterated previously made assurances that the proposals do not hinge on promoting export of German goods.
“I made it clear from the outset,” he said, “that in no circumstances would I personally endorse any project which aimed at transferring German-Jewish properties through the exportation of German goods. I was not prepared to act as a commercial traveler for German trade and that was fully understood by all those who were concerned.”
He also denied that the plan’s main concern is with the rescue of German Jews of wealth and property.
“We are concerned,” he declared, “far more with the human and with the economic aspect. If it be possible, as I have said, for them to withdrawn their properties also, well and good, But if not, they must come, if they do come, without, and in any case our effort is to secure for the younger generation the widest opportunities that can be obtained for them in other lands.”
Sir Herbert devoted a portion of his speech to contradicting a report that his delegation was “proposing to interfere with the autonomy, the self-government of the various institutions already engaged in this work.”
“We have no desire to centralize in London or anywhere else the work that is being done by various organizations already engaged in this sphere,” he added. “Your campaigns for your own purposes will go forward, and we shall be sorry indeed if any action on our part would divert funds urgently needed in other quarters–needed urgently both here and in other parts of the world. Least of all will we do anything to prejudice the success of financial campaigns on behalf of Palestine.”
Lord Bearsted in his speech told how the plan to help the German Jews emigrate had been evolved and along what general lines it would be followed.
Pointing out that the figure of 100,000 Jews to be expatriated had been decided upon as a reasonable preliminary effort that would be within practical bounds, Lord Bearsted presented the following outline of the project:
“We cannot of course do anything in one year,” he said. “We therefore envisage removing them at the rate of 25,000 a year, which is the maximum, as things are at present, we think we can place in many countries. It is quite impossible to place them in any one country or any two countries or even in any group of countries. We shall have to study the world. We don’t–I emphasize this want to bring them to any country where they are unwelcome, where they will become the focus for a fresh wave of anti-Semitism. We want to establish them as friends among friends and bring them as a definite economic asset to any country to which they come and not as a liability. It will be perhaps necessary for us to guarantee that they shall not be a charge for the first period of their citizenship or their intended citizenship. That is the rough line on which we are working. We expect in the ordinary course of events that a large number will go to Palestine because that country has up to now, owing to the great work which is being done there, been the most suitable country for them to go to, and the one where they have the most opportunity. But we fully realize that Palestine is not the only country and that they must go in many directions.”
Other speakers at the reception included Felix M. Warburg, Mr. Rosenberg, Rabbi Jonah Wise, Paul Baerwald and Mr. McDonald.
The former League refugee commissioner, whose final report to the League of Nations was frequently referred to as the “new Jewish Bible,” said he heartily endorsed the plan which had been projected. He revealed that he had been instrumental in causing the three British-Jewish leaders to make the trip to America. He concluded a brief address with the following statement:
“It is perhaps a harsh thing to say, but I should be recreant if I did not say it: the salvation of the Jews in Germany depends primarily upon the response of the Jews throughout the world to the appeals now being made to them. My prayer is that that response may be worthy of the finest traditions of an heroic people.”
The full text of the resolution adopted follows:
1. We await with anxiety the action of the League of Nations upon the recent report of High Commissioner McDonald, which shows by irrefutable proof the intolerable conditions in Germany.
2. We continue our earnest appeal for the restoration of all civil, political and religious rights in Germany.
3. Meantime, mindful of the unbearable plight of the Jews of Germany, we view with sympathy the proposals of our colleagues from Great Britain which envisages an emigration from Germany of from 20,000 to 25,000 Jews annually for a number of years to come.
4. We pledge our cooperation in the endeavor promptly to raise from all possible sources throughout the world $15,000,000 for such purposes. We note with gratification the readiness of the Jews of Great Britain to contribute substantially towards such a fund. In the past three years the Jews of the world have given substantial aid to refugees from Germany irrespective of race or creed. This we must continue to do. We hope for the cooperation of individuals and organizations throughout the world who may be concerned with the tragic problems which confront us.
5. We note from the statements this evening that these plans do not in any way contemplate or include any measures which will aid or facilitate in the export of German goods. This we regard as an essential condition.
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