“Mexico has untold potential## strength. It has prodigious natural possibilities that are dormant and undeveloped”, stated S.C. Lamport, well-known merchant and philanthropist who has large interests in Mexico, in commenting upon the possibility of starting Jewish colonization work in Mexico, in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“This offers a particularly interesting avenue for the effort of Jewish immigrants who would bring into that country their indefatigable energy and untiring ambitious effort and application to the various tasks to which they commit themselves in shaping their careers,” further states Mr. Lamport. “History is replete with the narrative of the success following in the footsteps of tolerance and consideration given to the Jewish people. I think that the same would hold true in Mexico, for Mexico is ready for the application of the industrial stir and untiring will to be successful that Jewish immigration would bring into contact with the undeveloped natural advantages which Mexicoholds.
“It is rather noteworthy that President Calles makes comment-on the fact that in some circles the opinion prevails that the Jewish masses are not for agricultural labor. It would be well worth the effort to analyze the history of attempts in the direction of agricultural activity that have been made by Jewish settlers in various parts of the United States. One would do well to study particularly the section in the immediate vicinity of New London, Conn., where hundreds upon hundreds of Jewish immigrants became farmers and took possession of small units of land less than a generation ago. That section has grown to be very prosperous indeed and land values have risen under the intensive cultivation and rapid development which resulted from Jewish aggressiveness along agrarian lines in that section. These immigrants of 10 and 20 years ago are today some of the most respected and desirable citizens in that community. I do not think that this is at all exception, but that it is rather the usual experience of Jewish attempts in agricultural districts.
No one ever yet accused the Jew of being lazy, whether it be in industrial endeavor or in the field of agriculture, and earnest application such as the Jewish immigrant is always ready to give to his task is always bound to meet with its fitting reward, with the resultant successful development of the community in which he lives.
It is of course quite advisable to await further development and have the proper facts before us prior to any assertive move being made towards settling any particular district in Mexico
with Jewish immigrants as a single unit. I have an abiding faith in the possibility for success of an attempt in the direction of settling Jewish immigrants anywhere in Mexico whenever they will have an assurance of tolerance and fairness and an opportunity for self expression and self development”, concludes Mr. Lamport.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
