Leaders’ Conference Pledges to Collect $3,100,000 for J. D. C. Summer Work

A decision to collect immediately $3,100,000 to continue the program of the J. D. C. in Europe during the summer months was taken at an emergency meeting of representatives of the United Jewish Campaign and the Joint Distribution Committee in the Eastern States held at the Hotel Biltmore on Sunday. This amount is needed to meet the regular commitments and other pressing needs of the work abroad.

The conference also decided to send a message of greeting to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rosenwald in appreciation of Mr. Rosenwald’s $5,000,000 subscription. The message declared that this contribution was an inspiring example which has given renewed impetus to generous Jewish giving.

"Borrow on account of your pledges!" was urged by David A. Brown, addressing the leaders of the various communities. "Borrow in your respective cities for the Joint Distribution Committee, even as the latter has borrowed here for the Jews abroad. Borrow on the notes of your officers to make advance payments to the United Jewish Campaign–to meet the emergency," the national chairman of the United Jewish Campaign declared.

"The honor of American Jewry is at stake in meeting our sacred obligations," was the keynote of Louis Marshall’s address.

"We want to be prepared for any emergency, and we want the world to know that we are prepared." he declared. Urging the continuance by the American Jews of the relief and reconstruction work abroad initiated during the World War by the Joint Distribution Committee. Mr. Marshall said: "We want no hectic drives in the future. For years to come the work will have to go on, and certain definite amounts will have to be contributed by the Jewish citizens of this country."

Mr. Marshall also commented on some criticism which appeared in the Jewish press in connection with Mr. Rosenwald’s and Mr. Warburg’s contributions for Russian colonization and not for Palestine. Palestine was not forgotten and would have been remembered ten times more than it is now, were it not for the undermining policy of those who attempt to invade the personal convictions of other people and to teach them what to do with their money, he stated.

Mr. Marshall also criticized those who carry on propaganda against American loans to European countries where the Jewish population is not well treated. There should be no interference with such loans for when the country obtains a loan its economic position is improved and the Jews benefit from it equally with the other parts of the population.

Felix M. Warburg, chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, stated the needs of the Jews abroad are still acute. "In Russia," said Mr. Warburg, "the new Jewish settlers are doing well, but they form but a small part of the total Jewish populations. In Palestine the situation is far from hopeless, but it is serious. The only moderate improvement we can note is in Poland, due to the enhanced credit status of that country, but our brethren there still need our help."

David M. Bressler, acting chairman of the Greater New York $6,000,000 United Jewish Campaign, spoke of Jewish delegations from Europe which recently arrived here to plead with the Joint Distribution Committee not to abandon but to extend its activities overseas. Mr. Bressler announced that the Jews in New York have paid in cash $5,150,000 on account of their pledges. He assured the gathering that New York City would meet in full its remaining obligations to the campaign.

James N. Rosenberg, chairman of the Agro-Joint, called attention to the tremendous movement to the land taking place among the Russian Jews. "This is a spontaneous exodus," he declared. "We did not create it, but provided the technical facilities needed. Two years ago our Moscow headquarters had 40,000 families registered as applicants. In spite of the considerable number settled since then, the list of applicants has not grown shorter, but longer." Mr. Rosenberg referred to the recent $5,000,000 and $1,000,000 subscriptions by Julius Rosenwald and Felix M. Warburg, for new Jewish land settlement work in Russia, but emphasized the fact that it was imperative to complete first the old reconstruction program to which the American Jews have committed themselves and for which funds are urgently needed at once.

"The work of the Joint Distribution Committee must continue so that we should not lose the fruit of our past labor," declared Col. Herbert H. Lehman, chairman of the Reconstruction Committee. He characterized the agricultural activities in Russia, "as the greatest social effort ever made by the American Jewry," adding: "If we do not pay our pledges, we should hang our heads in shame." Col. Lehman announced that the Jewish Colonization Association, of Paris, is ready to put up $200,000 for the European activities of the American Reconstruction Foundation if matched by an equal amount on the part of the Jews of this country.

Dr. Joseph A. Rosen, head of the Agro-Joint in Russia, pointed out on a map of the Crimea, the districts still available for Jewish settlements. "We have lost many opportunities, but we still have some left if we do not procrastinate," he said. "We are planning to settle from 15,000 to 20,000 families in the Crimea. In the northern part of the peninsula we expect to develop sugar plantations. In the other sections, we propose to establish poultry farms, to supply the neighboring resorts, as well as Moscow, Leningrad, Odessa and other large centers, with eggs and poultry."

Among the other speakers who addressed the meeting were: Congressman Golder, of Philadelphia; Felix Fuld, of Newark, N. J.; Bernard B. Given, of Syracuse; Dr. Henry Moskowitz, of New York; M. Diamond, of Paterson, N. J.; Samuel J. Weil, of New Haven; Albert H. Lieberman, of Philadelphia; B. Aufsesser, of Albany; Morris D. Waldman, of Detroit; Samuel C. Lamport, of New York City; Jonah J. Goldstein, Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum and M. Gillis, of New York City.