Our Daily News Letter

On November 29 delegates from all Zionist societies in Austria gathered at a convention here in the auditorium of the Engineers’ and Architects’ Club. The President of the Zionist Executive Committee of Austria delivered the introductory address, which was followed by the election of Dr. Desider Friedmann, as chairman, and Dr. Jacob Ehrlich, as vice chairman of the Convention.

A greeting was brought to the delegates from the London office of the Keren Hayesod by Dr. Martin Rosenbluth. Greetings were also delivered in the name of the German, Checkoslovakian, and other Zionist organizations.

The report of the Executive Committee, rendered by Dr. N. M. Gelber, showed that considerable sums had been collected by the Austrian Zionists for the various institutions connected with the Palestine reconstruction work: 4,292 pounds for the Keren Hayesod, 2,373 pounds for the Jewish National Fund, and so on. Considering that the number of Austrian Jews is not very large at the present time and remembering that their condition is very discouraging materially, it has been pointed out that their response to the Zionist appeals has been splendid.

Very interesting is the fact brought out at the convention that during the period from January 1, 1920, to October 31, 1924, more than 15,000 cases of emigrants to Palestine had been handled by the Palestine office of Vienna. Vienna has played an important role, either as the starting point or as a point of passage, for thousands of emigrants from all parts of Europe to Palestine. In the course of the year just past, the report of Dr. Gelber shows, 1,685 persons bound for Palestine were taken care of by the Vienna office. The Palestine office in Vienna has been directly responsible for the decision of a great number of these emigrants to go to Palestine and has used its influence to interest Jewish businessmen and merchants in Palestine enterprises.

The cultural work for Palestine was conducted ‘by the Jewish Schulverein, of which Dr. Zevi Chajes is the president and Dr. Isidor Margulies, the vice president.

In January, 1924, the Palestine Land Development Company was for the first time given official representation on the Executive Committee of the Austrian Zionist Organization. The activities for the Land Development Company here were in charge of Herr M. A. Tennenblatt and S. Horowitz, and the sale of land through their efforts was reported to be satisfactory.

The report of Dr. Gelber was followed by a series of addresses on the different phases and problems of Zionist work in general and particularly in reference to the Zionist activities in Austria. Those who read papers on the Keren Hayesod, Jewish National Fund, Palestine problems, etc., were Dr. Martin Rosenbluth, Dr. Chaim Tartakower, Dr. Nahum Blauer, etc. Dr. Martin Rosenbluth urged that the Palestine-budget of the Zionist Organization should be raised the next year from 400,000 to 800,000 pounds.

At a closed session, Dr. Stricker, member of the Austrian Parliament, delivered a lengthy speech, in which he dealt with the political problems of Zionism, the question of the Jewish Agency and the general situation in the Zionist Organization at the present time.

The convention elected Dr. Jacob Ehrlich as president of the Austrian Zionists for the ensuing term. Dr. Ehrlich is known as a Zionist of long standing, having, in fact, been a leading figure in the Zionist movement from the day when Dr. Herzl appeared as the proponent of Zionism. He has held many important positions in the Zionist organization of Austria.

The previous president, Herr Robert Stricker, has refused to serve in this office again, because he wished to be relieved of the burden, having held it for a long period and also because he finds he cannot agree with the World Zionist Executive on the question of the Jewish Agency. It is said here that Herr Stricker will shortly announce his resignation as vice-president of the Zionist Actions Committee owing to his disagreement with the other members on the subject of the Jewish Agency.