Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]

Jacob Billikopf’s cable from Moscow under date of Aug. 11, reporting an interview with the Soviet Vice President, Smidovitch, on the question of Jewish colonization, is criticized by the “Jewish Tribune,” on the ground that there by Mr. Billikopf “has practically disqualified himself as an impartial observer and investigator.

“Jacob Billikopf,” the “Tribune” declares in an editorial over Herman Bernstein’s name, in its issue which will appear today, “is one of the ablest American Jewish social workers and we were justified in expecting from him a thorough and conscientious investigation of the important problem of Jewish colonization in which American Jewry is so deeply interested.

“But by the very first cable Mr. Billikopf has sent from Russia for publication he has practically disqualified himself as an impartial observer and investigator.

“This, of course, is not an investigation. Nor is it likely that after such an enthusiastic blanket indorsement of the Soviet government’s efforts to help Jewish colonization in Russia, Mr. Billikopf will revise his opinion broadcast a few days after his arrival in Russia.

“Mr. Billikopf reports that he interviewed Mr. Smidovitch, vice-president of the executive committee of the Soviets, and that he was tremendously impressed with the sincerity and genuineness of the government’s desire to help the Jews to settle on land. He submitted to him every conceivable objection raised in this country’ to the colonization project and Smidovitch’s replies were unequivocal and most satisfactory’ to Mr. Billikopf. He also informs us that he read the full text of the letter by M. Kalinin, president of the Soviet Republic, on Jewish colonization, and adds that if Mr. Duranty, Moscow, correspondent of the New York ‘Times’ had translated it in its entirety, no misunderstandings would have arisen.

“The Kalinin letter or article, published in the ‘Izvestia’, has appeared in translation in full in ‘The Jewish Bulletin’ as well as in ‘The Jewish Tribune’. We cannot find anything in it that would justify a change in the first impression created by it when it was summarized by Mr. Duranty. Whatever we may think of Mr. Duranty’s reports from Russia, no one would be justified in accusing him of sending out of Russia dispatches that showed the Soviets in an urifavorable light, or that were in any way distasteful to them.”

Referring to Elias Tobenkin’s report in the “Herald-Tribune” to the effect that the Soviet President Kalenin informed him a “Jewish Republic” is being planned for Siberia, the “Jewish Tribune” observes in the same editorial in conclusion:

“The Jews of America are not interested in establishing a Jewish state in Siberia, and we are sure that the idea will receive no encouragement in this country. A Jewish republic, directed by Jewish Communists in Siberia, will not stem the tide of assimilation which President Kalinin admits, deplores and seeks to prevent.

“As for Jewish colonization in Russia, the Jews of American would be able to help their brethren in Russia more effectively if we had a thorough survey of the Russian colonization scheme.”

MR. ROSENWALD’S $3,000,000 GIFT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM

Julius Rosenwald’s $3,000,000 gift for an Industrial Museum in Chicago is lauded by the New York “Times” of yesterday. The paper also takes the opportunity to stress the need of a like museum in New York.

“The magnificent gift of Mr. Julius Rosenwald,” we read, “is to make possible the establishment of such a museum, greater than ‘the greatest in the world’ at the present moment. With $3,000,000 as a beginning and the cooperation upon which he can count of manufactures throughout America, this museum should easily take first place among the world’s industrial museums. But this will not lessen the need of a like museum here–even a greater one. We have been ‘saying’ the thing so long that when we come to doing, it should be better done for the waiting. Meanwhile, Chicago is to be congratulated on doing it first for America, and Mr. Rosenwald on having the vision, the disposition and the means to make it possible.”

Leon B. Kameneff was ousted from his post of Commisar of Trade in the Soviet Cabinet. I. Mikoran has been appointed his successor.

A group of delegates from the Ethical Culture Society of New York met with Dr. Adler at Lake Placid, N. Y., in celebration of his seventy-fifth birthday.

The gathering also celebrated the raising of $600,000 for the new Ethical Culture school.