The “Jewish World” of Philadelphia carries, in a recent issue, a correspondence from Vienna in which the writer relates a speech delivered before a Jewish audience in that city by the well known Arabian poet and publicist of Palestine, Aziz Damet. Aziz Damet is an enthusiastic believer in the Zionist movement, a personal friend of Dr. Weizmann and Israel Zangwill, and he is propagating for friendly relations between the Jews and Arabs. In his Vienna speech he said, among other things:
“You have heard of the type of landowners in Palestine called ‘effendi’, which is a Turkish word, the ‘effendi’ class having been established by the Turks. A four-year old child of an ‘effendi’ could slap the face of an Arab Sheik. The ‘effendis’ always exploited the Arabs and have kept them in a backward state.
“The rule of the ‘effendis’ has been abolished. But the Arab today is unable to cultivate the soil the way the Jew can, though he has learned somewhat since the latter has come to Palestine. Wherever the Arab has learned from the Jew both have become friends. The tendency on the part of progressive Arabs today is toward cooperation with the Jews. It is high time that this should be so.”
OVER-ABUNDANCE OF FRIENDS MAY HURT IMMIGRANTS’ CAUSE
There is danger that the immigrants and those who are interested to see a liberalization of the immigration laws may suffer because of an overabundance of friends, is the warning given by Mr. Jacob Fishman, in the “Jewish Morning Journal” of Dec. 23.
“Last week Congressman Perlman introduced a bill in the interests of the immigrants. Now Congressman La Guardia has introduced a second bill. Why two bills? Why cannot the friends of immigration unite on one bill?
“Congressman La Guardia’s bill is not tactful anyway, because his entire party is hostile to him, owing to his recent alliance with La Follette. If Congressman La Guardia really has the welfare of the immigrants at heart why was he not content with Perlman’s bill? If he has something to add why could he not do this by amendments?
“The first thing needed to help the cause of the immigrants is unity among their friends in Congress”, concludes Mr. Fishman.
A PLEASANT DEVELOPMENT
According to statistics compiled by the Employment Bureau of the B’nai B’rith in Mexico City the immigration of Jews into Mexico is increasing very rapidly, having risen recently from an average of 75 Jewish immigrants a month to 500. The “Day”, of Dec. 17, hails this as a pleasant development.
“The Jews of the United States are interested to see that there should grow up in their neighboring country a new Jewish community. The Jewish people as a whole and we as part of it would surely gain from this. If the Jewish immigration into Mexico is a natural development it deserves to be welcomed by us.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
