Bureya of Interest in U.S., Rosen Says

Interest in Biro-Bidjan is being shown to a considerable extent in responsible Jewish circles in the United States which are concerned with the prospects for a large immigration movement of foreign Jews to the new autonomous region in the Far East.

This report was made by Dr. Joseph Rosen, director of the American Jewish Joint Agricultural Corporation, popularly called the Agrojoint, on his return here from a visit to America of several months’ duration. During that visit he revealed the observations drawn from a tour of investigation through Biro-Bidjan.

“Biro-Bidjan is the only place,” said Dr. Rosen, “that under certain circumstances could become a refuge for the Jewish working masses of some European countries. The position today of the Jews in several lands, especially those bordering on the Soviet Union, is such that they are not sure of their livelihood, and the time may come when even their lives will not be safe.”

Leading Jewish circles in the United States, Dr. Rosen asserted, realize the situation and are considering it very seriously and with sympathy.

Owing to a number of political and economic reasons, he added, it has not yet been possible to arrive at a definite decision and to put forward concrete proposals. Negotiations will be carried on, however, with the Soviet authorities for including in the annual quota of settlers a proportion of Jews from abroad.

Army, CCC Grant Furloughs.

Regular Army soldiers and Civilian Conservation Corps members of Jewish faith will be granted furloughs to permit them to participate in the observance of Passover, Major General Dennis E. Nolan announced Friday at headquarters of the Second Corps Area on Governors Island. The furloughs will begin at noon Wednesday and expire at midnight Saturday, April 20.