The three British-Jewish leaders who are sailing January 15 for the United States will carry with them two distinct plans for the consideration of American Jews, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned from reliable sources today.
One plan is concerned with measures to enable German Jews to settle in Palestine. Its origin is attributed to Simon Marks, British chain store magnate and Zionist leader, and one of the three who will visit America on the mission.
The second plan embraces establishment of an international liquidation bank, details of which have been previously disclosed. This bank, with headquarters in London, will enable German Jews to emigrate to countries other than Palestine under terms of an agreement similar to that is effect between Palestine and Germany. By this method German Jews will be enable to transfer their capital into merchandise, the bank to handle the entire transaction and turn over to the emigrant his money in the currency of the nation in which he will settle.
In this project, Viscount Bearsted, head of the powerful Shell Oil interests, is reputedly interested. He is the second of the trio which will visit the United States.
Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner for Palestine, and third member of the delegation, it is understood here, has been chosen as the coordinator of both projects.
Meanwhile, it was learned in Government circles today that the Jewish leaders who have been negotiating with the Government have practically agreed that foreign currency shall be paid Germany for a part of the merchandise which the emigrants will be permitted to take with them under terms of the international bank project.
Because of the foreign currency feature, it was further disclosed today, the international bank plan enjoys the support of Dr. Hjalmar Schacht.
It is understood, however, that the foreign exchange involved will represent only a small fraction of the worth of the goods. It is in this foreign currency feature that the international bank plan differs significantly from the Palestine-Germany transfer agreement. By the terms of the latter pact, Germany does not receive foreign exchange for any part of the goods taken out of the country by the Jewish emigrants to Palestine.
It was further authoritatively disclosed to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that opinion in Government circles is divided on whether it is wise to permit wholesale emigration of German Jews.
Extremist members of the cabinet are in favor of getting rid of the Jews regardless of the ultimate cost to Germany. The moderates, on the other hand, fearing that Germany is facing economic collapse, believe that no matter how much Germany wishes its Jewish population reduced, a system of selective emigration is advisable and even necessary. These point out that there are elements in the Jewish population which are useful to the country economically and which should not be permitted to leave Germany.
The moderates in the cabinet contend further that not only is Germany losing capital which is exported in the form of goods or money, but the hurried liquidation of Jewish enterprises is already resulting in a noticeable decrease in German business activities.
That Germany is not anxious at the present time to consider any project for large-scale emigration of Jewish capitalists is indicated in an article syndicated by Partei Korrespondenz, official organ of the Nazi party.
In this article it is stated that Jews are not being driven from the Reich. Those who leave, it declares, do so “of their own free will.”
“Thus far,” the article continues, “there have been no pogroms against Jews such as are occurring in neighboring East European countries.” (The reference is obviously to Poland, where anti-Jewish attacks in recent months have resulted in the deaths of a number of Jews and the wounding of scores more.)
The article concludes by advising the League of Nations to examine the Jewish situation in countries east of the Reich and not to interfere with Germany’s treatment of its Jewish population.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
