Hias Launches $500,000 Campaign to Settle Jewish Emigrants in Countries Other Than U.S.

The campaign of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America to raise $500,000 was launched yesterday. The fund sought is to help Jewish refugees from Eastern and Central Europe to settle in countries other than the United States.

The fund is to finance a series of immigrant-aid activities of the Hias in conjunction with the Jewish Colonization Association, of Paris, and the United Jewish Emigration Societies of Europe, known as Emigdirekt.

The work is to be done in Europe and in the lands of immigration, according to a program agreed upon by the three organizations which have united for the purpose under the name of "Hias-Ica-Emigdirekt" with headquarters in Paris and Berlin. In various parts of Europe, and especially in the countries from which Jewish emigration is largest, such as Poland, Lithuania, Roumania, Bessarabia, Latvia, Constantinople and Harbin, emigrant aid offices will be established at which advice will be given as to the countries where Jewish emigration is acceptable, and under what conditions; training in the language of those countries and in some trade or vocation adapted to its economic needs. In the lands of immigration, and particularly in the Republic of South America, including Brazil, Argentine, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru, shelter-houses will be established to receive the Jewish newcomers on their arrival. Employment bureaus, work-shops and trade schools, as well as language and citizenship courses will be given and loans to advance credits to the immigrants in all form.

All of the facilities of the Emigdirekt in Europe, and all of the facilities of Ica in South America will be available for the Jews who otherwise would find their way into these countries without knowledge of the conditions confronting them, and with no preparation for successful establishment there.

John L. Bernstein, who was for many years president of Hias, is campaign chairman. The campaign committee consists of Jacob H. Cohen, E. W. Lewin-Epstein, Alexander Kahn, Leon Kamaiky and Albert Rosenblatt, vice-chairmen, and Harry Fischel, treasurer. Headquarters have been opened at the Hias Building, 425 Lafayette Street, New York.

In a statement opening the campaign, Mr. Bernstein said:

"The restriction of immigration to the United States has not ended the problem of Jewish emigration. It has only rendered it more acute, more difficult of solution. Because thousands and thousands of Jews are under the necessity of leaving their homes in Poland, in Roumania, in Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Hungary, they are making a desperate effort to establish themselves in other lands by the sweat of their brows. Bewildered by the terrible circumstances which force them to go, some of them, unless prevented, will go wherever they may be persuaded to go by steamship company agents, who are concerned merely with selling tickets. Many turn to us for advice. This they have every right to do, because Hias, the Jewish Colonization Association and the Emigdirekt are the outstanding organizations in the field of immigration. The advice and assistance we give them must be of a character that will reasonably assure them of safe and successful settlement in countries where they will be welcomed and where they will find peace and the opportunity to live.

"South Africa and Australia are available for Jewish immigration, provided the applicant for a visa can pass an English-language test, and knows some trade adapted to those countries. To an even larger extent, and under easier preliminary conditions, the Republics of South America are open to Jewish immigration. But before going there the Jewish immigrants must be taught the language and a trade.

"In the South American Republics, especially in Argentine, the Ica has been established for many years. In Uruguay to which more than a thousand Jews went last year, Emigdirekt has already established headquarters at Montevideo and Paysandz and has already aided most of them substantially. Leading statesmen of that country have expressed themselves enthusiastically about the newcomers and in welcome of the large numbers who are expected to come. The Governments of Paraguay and Peru both sent official communications to the Hias national meeting, welcoming Jewish immigration. Representatives of the united organizations are already functioning, also, in Chile and Brazil.

"We appeal to the Jews of America to cooperate with Hias, its representative in the field of emigration and immigration, to give this campaign their fullest, their most generous support.

"We ask every Jew to make a personal contribution, to send his check immediately to our treasurer. Harry Fischel, at 425 Lafayette Street, New York. There is no time for the organization of elaborate campaign machinery, such as we have become accustomed to in this country. Nor does the small sum sought, $500,000, warrant it.

"We call upon every Jewish organization in this country, every fraternal order and its lodges, every landsmanshaft, every national labor organization and its branches to contribute to this fund from its treasury or by solicitation among its members. We appeal to the thousands of independent benevolent societies to do likewise; and we appeal to all the Jewish philanthropic federations in this country to make appropriations for this fund, or to permit special canvasses to be made for it, and to all who may be approached in such canvasses to respond.

"Especially do we call upon the Jewish congregations. Orthodox, Conservative and Reform to cooperate with this campaign. At the Hias National Meeting on March 13th, a recommendation was made that every synagogue and temple set aside one day during Passover for this campaign. On this day, the purpose of the campaign should be explained to the congregation and an appeal made for contributions.

"Jews of America: thousands of Jews are on the march, hotly pursued by cruel hunger and even crueler anti-Semitism. They are on the march to what?

"Shall they go to new tragedy, shall they go to destruction?

"Or, shall they go to peace, to opportunity, to happiness?

"The answer is in your hands!"