Nathan Straus Returns from Trip to Palestine

Nathan Straus returned yesterday on the steamer Adriatic from a trip to Palestine where he participated in the ceremonies of the laying of the cornerstone for the Non-sectarian Health Center he is establishing there.

In a statement issued to the press, Mr. Straus declared:

“I have found steady progress in Palestine, in spite of the crisis in Tel Aviv, which is of a temporary character. I understand that the unemployment problem will soon be remedied by the British Administration in Palestine, through the employment of a large number of men on the construction of the Haifa harbor, and also through the employment of many workers by Mr. Rutenberg in his great irrigation and power projects.

“I have been deeply impressed by the following people in Palestine this time: High Commissioner, Lord Plumer, Mr. Chaim Bialik, Mr. P. Rutenberg, and Colonel Symes, Chief Secretary for Palestine. The High Commissioner is one of the most charming and upright men I have ever met. He is splendidly endowed for his high and difficult post and is greatly esteemed by the people of Palestine. He is ably assisted by Col. Symes, a farsighted and efficient executive. Mr. Rutenberg is a man of action and of great courage who has already accomplished big things for Palestine, and I feel sure that he will accomplish still greater things in the near future. Mr. Bialik, the foremost Hebrew poet in the world, is not only a great writer but also a wonderful man of practical vision and broad sympathies.

“I went to Palestine for the specific purpose of establishing in Jerusalem a Health and Welfare Center, for the people of Palestine, regardless of race or creed, and also to expand milk stations there. During my stay in Jerusalem the cornerstone of this institution was laid by the High Commissioner, Lord Plumer, in the presence of large number of representative Christians. Moslems and Jews. The building will be completed next year, and Miss Henrietta Szold, one of the most remarkable and self-sacrificing women in the world, will have complete charge of this institution, as well as of the humanitarian work done by the Hadassah, the American women Zionists, who have already performed wonders in reducing the death rate by improving sanitary and health conditions in the Holy Land The Hadassah Medical Organization is fortunate in having as its Director Dr. E. M. Bluestone, of New York, one of the foremost hospital administrators.

“I was accompanied to Palestine by my friend, Herman Bernstein, who was good enough to change his own sailing date in order to be with me in Palestine. I feel happy that I was guided in my relief work by the soundness of his judgment and his extraordinary understanding of people and conditions. It was after his investigation of the distress caused by the unemployment problem in Tel Aviv that I contributed $20,000 for immediate relief there.

“The Holy Land is being rebuilt. The friction between the Arabs and the Jews is constantly decreasing, for both are beginning to realize that they cannot get along without one another. Most of the friction in the past was caused by paid agitators who were deliberately stirring up trouble between the Arabs and the Jews.

“We need greater coordination of efforts in Palestine and greater sacrifices by Jewry outside of Palestine.

“I am confident that Jerusalem will become once more the religious center of the world and Capital of Peace,” Mr. Straus concluded.