Jewish Agency Needs $16,000,000 in Current Year; Expects Two-thirds from U.S. Jews

The Jewish Agency for Palestine will require $16,000,000 during the current year to finance its various activities, it was announced at a press conference here today by Eliezer Kaplan, Agency treasurer.

It is hoped, Mr. Kaplan said, that two-thirds of the $16,000,000 budget will be met by contributions from Jews in the United States, while the remainder will come from various sources, including a $2,700,000 loan from Lloyds Bank.

Over $3,000,000 will be spent for immigration, the Agency treasurer said, and more than $4,000,000 for establishment of eleven or twelve new settlements, including five for demobilized soldiers and two for Oriental Jews. Part of the expanses for one of the latter settlements, which it has been proposed to name after Yehuda Halevi, will be covered by Argentine Jewry.

To alleviate the housing shortage, the Agency will allot $4,000,000 for the construction of 2,000 rooms in urban areas and 1,000 in rural districts, Mr. Kaplan stated He also disclosed that the Agency has assisted many citrus growers who did not receive government subsidies, or whose subsidies were delayed.

Discussing other financial activities of the Jews of Palestine, Mr. Kaplan said that the Jewish Agency was awaiting the results of Consultations with major Jewish bodies in the country before adopting a stand on the new increased taxation scheme proposed by the Palestine Government. He announced that efforts are being made to secure raw materials and agricultural machinery from Britain, but said that if they are unsuccessful, the material will be purchased in the United States, Mr. Kaplan revealed that the Agency is caring for the property in Palestine of many Jews still in occupied territory in Europe.