Israel B. Brodie Reports Situation of Jewish Agency in Interview with J.t.a.

The Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) which as its headquarters in New York City, will take place on Sunday afternoon, March 19th, at 1:30 o’clock at the Hotel Astor.

The distressing financial position of the Jewish Agency must not be forgotten when consideration is given to the present relatively prosperous economic status of Palestine generally, Israel B. Brodie, President, American Economic Committee for Palestine, stated in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Mr. Brodie had returned from attendance at a meeting in London of the Board of Directors of Palestine Potash, Ltd., the company which owns and operates the concession for the extraction of the minerals of the Dead Sea. He stated that the officers and directors of Palestine Potash, Ltd. were very much encouraged by the progress which had been made in extending the chemical plant at the Dead Sea.

While in London, Mr. Brodie met and conferred with a number of the more important figures in Palestine economic life who had just arrived in London and had found that not only is the employment situation excellent but investment funds had been coming into Palestine from all parts of the world and barring too eager an investment procedure, which may result in inflation, progress may be expected to continue for some time to come.

“On the other hand,” Mr. Brodie continued, “insufficient attention is being paid to the very difficult position of the Jewish Agency amid quite satisfactory conditions in Palestine. In our pride in the success of many of our efforts in Palestine, we have become unmindful of the obligations of the Jewish Agency and of the inability of the Jewish community in Palestine to bear a larger share of the social burdens than it is now carrying. Maintenance of public service should keep pace with the economic progress. It is of vital importance that the political and social arm of the Jewish people—the Jewish Agency—should be enlarged with the economic expansion of the country. With the increase in population and with the increase in opportunities for employment must go adequate educational, medical and immigration services. Teachers must be paid; more teachers must be employed. Hospital and medical services must be maintained and expanded. In particular, the needs of the chalutzim must be provided for. Despite the rapid economic progress of the country, it is too much to expect of the community that it should shoulder the whole burden of it social needs at this time.”

The Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) which as its headquarters in New York City, will take place on Sunday afternoon, March 19th, at 1:30 o’clock at the Hotel Astor.Mr. Abraham Herman, the President, will present his annual message and in addition thereto full reports of the Society’s work in all parts of the world for the year 1932 will be given.