Felix M. Warburg, Back from World Tour,tells of Conditions in Russia and Palestine

Felix M. Warburg, chairman of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. arrived Friday afternoon on the steamer Aquitania, from a trip around the world. Julius Rosenwald arrived on the same steamer. Mr. Rosenwald stated that while in London he met Dr. Chaim Weizmann.

Mr. Warburg, when interviewed by a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, gave his impressions of his visit to Palestine and Russia. When asked about his plan for a ten year program for work in Palestine and Russia. which was reported in cable despatches, Mr. Warburg said that he would not care to make any statements at present before he renders his report to the Joint Distribution Committee.

“After a trip of six months duration it is difficult to give in a few words the impressions gathered from so many countries in regard to so many different problems,” Mr. Warburg said. “We have admired nature’s beauty in many moods in many countries, and have seen the struggle to work out economic problems under all kinds and forms of government.

“Among the countries re-visited was impressed with the improvements in Athens and Palestine. In the latter country I found, under the admirable administration of Lord Plumer, the problems between Arab and Jew rapidly diminishing and some of the farms getting on a successful business basis. If the enthusiastic support which has made the development so far possible continues. I feel that in that corner of the world which has inspired so many religions and so many people a successful and comfortable Colony can be worked out. It is not a proposition which can develop by itself, and it will need financial support to overcome the difficulties which many years of neglect under former governments have, no doubt caused. In addition to the working out of financial problems, I am very hopeful that the University which is gradually taking shape, thanks to the generous support which it has received from a few sources, will form centre of education and inspiration in matters Jewish, and that the other departments not connected with the Jewish studies will help the country and the development of Jewish minds,” Mr. Warburg said.

“My trip through Russia, from Vladlvostock to Maseow from Moscow to the Black Sea and back to Moscow and Lenigrad, and then through Poland to Berlin, was all ## incognita for me. and while I was prepared to find things very different from what sensational writers and partial observers have told the world, I did not think that one could see as much of this enormous country and meet so much kindliness and readiness to show you what their new thoughts and principles aim at. I am principally interested not in business but in the development of new colonies, especially those for the benefit of the Jewish population formerly condenmed to live in the ‘Pale’ now permitted to live eleswhere and also on the farms.

“Through the efforts of the Jewish Colonization Association in Paris, who repopulated such farms at indoned in consequences of famines and civil war and through the efforts of the Joint Distribution Committee, which has established about 139 new villages in the districts around Krewol-Rog and Cheraea. and the ###,### 130,000 Jews are living and supporting themselves decently on farms. We spent three weeks studying the results of this enterprise, and were more than encouraged to see that these people who live ?sea the farms in their third year begin to repay as they should, the loans made to them. The details about this encouraging enterprise it will be my privillege to report to our Committee and I will not go into ?of at the moment.

“We have stopped and seen ### number of cities in Siberia which we passed through during a trip Jasting about two weeks,” he said. The riches of their country and forests, fieds and water power, not to mention furs and metals, is tremendous, and it ought to be only a question of organization and management somewhat different from what they have now to produce most gratifying results. The courtesy shown everywhere was extraordinary; from vine’s name was mentioned together with Chamberlin.

The representative of “The Day” was also granted an interview by Postmaster General Harry F. New. Mr. New denied that any racial or religious considerations influenced the attitude of the government toward Mr. Levine. If Mr. Levine was a Catholic, a Protestant or a Mohammedan, the situation would not have been different.The charge that Mr. Levine’s religion or race had anything to do with the matter is absolutely baseless, Mr. New stated.

Mr. New indicated that the attitude of Mr. Levine was cansed as a result of the controversy now pending between the government and Mr. Levine in the war material transactions, although he refused to state what the nature of the difference was. The Post master General stated that the entire matter still rests in the hands of the Artorney General’s office.

The former Senator from Indiana ridiculed the charge that he was an anti-Semite. Jews were always among his closest friends in Indianapolis, he stated. Many of his friendships, dating back to his school days are with Henry Cohen. S. E. Rowe. Wolf Suss man, Ralph Barnberger and many other Jews who are prominent in business and social work. Besides, there are in the post office department thousands of Jews who serve the government and whose services are just as satisfactory as that of all other employees of the department, he stated.