Despite dislocation of communications on the Mediterranean, with all available shipping utilized for the transportation of war material, Palestine is not suffering any serious shortage of staple food products, the Zionist Organization of America reported today. The report said Egypt alone was ready to fill Palestine’s food demands.
“Egypt is plentifully stocked up with food provisions which it is exporting to Palestine in large quantities,” it was stated. “These products include fresh and salted fish, cream, onions, rice, potatoes, nuts, sugar, beets and cereals.
“Palestine has a record wheat production. According to Mr. Mason, Chief Agriculture Officer, this year’s wheat harvest amounts to some 150,000 tons, marking a considerable increase over the production in any preceding year. Inasmuch as wheat consumption in Palestine averages 140,000 tons per year, Palestine’s entire domestic need for the year will be covered by home production.
“Jewish merchants in Palestine have concluded agreements with Syrian merchants for the barter of 500 tons of potatoes from Syria for the equivalent in Palestine wine. Similar agreements are about to be concluded for the exchange of other products.”
The Z.O.A. also reported that Dr. Chaim Weizmann had been appointed scientific advisor to the British Government and that a Government laboratory has been placed at his disposal. Dr. A. Bergman of the Sieff Institute of Rehovoth, has been named to assist Dr. Weizmann.
Responding to the call of the national Z.O.A. office, more than 200 Zionist districts in various parts of the country have pledged to double their membership in the present nationwide campaign launched by the organization for 150,000 members, it was stated. The campaign received stimulus by the tour just completed by Edmund I. Kaufmann, president of the Z.O.A. and Rabbi Isadore Breslau, executive director, through New England and the Mid-West, it was said.
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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.
