J. D. B. News Letter

(By Our Berlin Correspondent)

A review of Jewish emigration and immigration activity during the first four months of the current year was submitted to the meeting of the united Jewish emigration organization Hicem (Hias-Ica-Emigdirekt) held here yesterday under the chairmanship of Dr. James Simon. There were present the Directors of the Hicem, Dr. Edouard Oungre of Paris and Dr. James Bernstein, the members of the Executive, Messrs, Joachimsohn, Jacob Lestchinsky, Professor Mittwoch, and Privy Councillor Stern, Mr. Israel Bernstein and Dr. Grideshok, Riga, members of the Council, the Secretariat and Dr. Leo Bramson by invitation.

The report stated that both in the countries of emigration and of immigration there has been a considerable increase of activity during these four months, and in certain branches of activity the figures have been as high as for the whole of the previous year; 9,787 emigrants registered in the countries of emigration (6,554 in Poland, 1,118 in France, 851 in Roumania, 304 in Belgium, 219 in Latvia, 209 in Holland, 532 in Danzig). 28,948 persons visited the Hicem offices during the same period. In 6,565 cases legal aid was provided (passports, visas, interventions with foreign Consulates, etc.). Passages at reduced rates amounting to a sum of about 100,000 dollars were obtained for emigrants through the mediation of the Hicem offices.

Agricultural and industrial training of intending emigrants is being continued in Poland. At the begining of the spring season there were 51 persons working on the land. In addition there is a training course for electricians conducted in Warsaw, a course for carpenters in Lemberg and courses for chauffeurs in Riga and Kishineff. Training courses are also conducted in English and Spanish languages in Poland (seven towns), Roumania, Latvia and Lithuania.

There was also an increased activity in the countries of immigration. In the Argentine three new employment exchanges were opened in the big provincial towns of Rosario, Cordova and Rio Blanco. In the course of the first two months of their existence, these exchanges have provided employment for 110 persons. In Buenos Aires 819 persons registered during the first three months of the current year and 297 were provided with employment. In addition 179 women travelling alone have been looked after to prevent them falling into the hands of undesirable persons. In Brazil new committees have been established, in Santos and Porto Alegro in addition to that in Rio de Janeiro. In all these towns the committees are engaged in meeting the immigrants on board ship and providing work for them. In Rio de Janeiro 441 persons registered in the last three months and 105 immigrants have been provided with employment. In Uruguay 155 immigrants registered in the first two months of the current year; 35 of these have proceeded to adjoining countries; 52 immigrants have been provided with work.

In South Africa 169 persons passed in three months through the first labor bureau established in Johannesburg and 32 obtained employment.

The meeting accepted a number of proposals submitted by Dr. L. Bramson in a detailed report on South Africa as a country for Jewish immigration. Dr. Bramson, who recently returned from a stay of about a year in South Africa, suggested that the Jewish employment exchanges in Johannesburg and Cape Town, established by the Hicem, should be asked to draw up a complete list of professions in which there is a demand for immigrant labor; that contact should be established with the South African Jewish Board of Deputies with regard to obtaining facilities for Jewish immigrants to enter the country, especially artisans who have no relatives in South Africa; that regular information should be supplied by committees in the East European countries, especially in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia concerning the classes of artisans and workers who can go out as emigrants to South Africa, and that a special representative should be sent to these countries to go into this matter; that a subsidy should be allocated until the end of the year for the two employment exchanges for immigrants in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and that all these measures for productive immigration should be extended also to Rhodesia.

On the motion of Dr. Edouard Oungre and Dr. James Simon it was decided to express thanks for their active co-operation with Dr. Bramson on behalf of Jewish immigration to Mr. Raphaely, President of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Kentridge, members of the South African Parliament and to Messrs. Ovidov, London and Percy Cohen.

Israel Bernstein submitted a report on his mission of inspection in Roumania, and Mr. Dijur reported on his inspection tour in Danzig.

It was reported that the Ica has taken steps to open emigration bureaus in Soviet Russia in accordance with its recent agreement with the Soviet Government.

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