J. D. B. News Letter

Special Cable

Admiration for the Jewish achievements in Palestine was expressed by Albert Londres, well known French journalist, who came here as the representative of the “Petit Parisien” to make a study of the Zionist work.

M. Londres declared that he had gathered considerable material for his series of articles which will subsequently be incorporated into a book on the Palestine work. He expressed surprise that more French Jews are not Zionists. He, a Christian, is an ardent Zionist, he said, believing that only Zionism will be able to solve the Jewish problem.

A banquet in honor of Prof. Edouard Claparede of Geneva was given here on the occasion of the professor’s visit to Palestine. A representative gathering, including many of the professor’s former students at the University of Geneva and the Institute Jean Jacques Rousseau, attended the dinner.

Prof. Claparede, in his address, expressed admiration for what he had seen in Palestine. Palestine and Switzerland have changed roles, he said. Now, Switzerland should learn from Palestine lessons in regeneration, enthusiasm and energy.

Mordecai Kaspi, Latvian Consul to Jerusalem, tendered a banquet to the Latvian Socialist leader, Reinis, who is now on a visit here. Keith-Roach represented the government.

Mr. Reinis expressed admiration for the new work being done in Palestine. He declared that a new Europe will be upbuilt under the influence of the Palestine rebuilding work. “Europe is waiting for Palestine’s message,” he said.

The Latvian Socialist leader addressing the tenth anniversary celebration of the labor party, Achduth Ha’avoda, conveyed the greetings of the Latvian Socialists. On his visit to Palestine, he said, he had become convinced that the allegations of the Jewish Socialist party, Bund, anti-Zionist, have no foundation in fact. The Bund in Latvia asserted that Zionism is a bourgeois movement and that there is no strong labor movement in the country. The workers in Palestine are not only building up the country, but are also reviving the Hebrew language, which is not the dead language asserted by the Bundists but has become the language of the Jewish working class. The European Socialists have much to learn from Palestine labor, which is combining patriotism with social justice, he said.

The policy of the Jerusalem Electric Company in employing labor, discriminating against Jewish workers, is still agitating the population. Following the (Continued on Page 4)

Dr. Chaim Weizmann, on receipt of the news of the decision of the London conference to join the extended Jewish Agency, sent the following message to O. E. d’Avigdor Goldsmid, president of the Board of Jewish Deputies, who presided at the conference:

“I am delighted at the clear demonstration of English Jewry’s determination to participate in the development of Jewish Palestine,” the Zionist leader cabled.

Mr. d’Avigdor Goldsmid, in his reply, said: “The satisfactory results of the conference are due largely to your wise statesmanship. Anglo-Jewry is looking forward with pleasure to close cooperation with you and the Zionist Organization in the future development of Palestine.”

A new hotel which will be the largest in Palestine when completed, it is said, will be started this week in Jerusalem. The cost of erection will be £150,000. The project is sponsored jointly by an Egyptian hotels company, the London Economic Board and a group headed by Bernard Flexner.