Plan to Place Another 2,265 Jewish Families on Farms in Russia in 1929

Eleven thousand Jewish men and women in Russia will be given the opportunity, through American cooperation, to rehabilitate themselves on farms in the Crimea and the Ukraine during 1929, according to a report from Dr. Joseph A. Rosen, Director of the Agro-Joint, made public today by James N. Rosenberg, Chairman of the American Society for Jewish Farm Settlements, in Russia, Inc.

This group comprises 2,265 families who will be added to the 125,000 Jews who have previously been aided by the Agro-Joint to settle on farm lands made available by the Soviet Government.

Of the 2,265 families to be settled this year, 1525 will be colonized in the Ukraine, 700 in the Crimea, and 400 in the Nikolaev section.

This farm colonization is made possible, said Mr. Rosenberg, through the consummation of the agreement between the American Society and the U. S. S. R. Through this agreement, he added, $10,000,000 is to be advanced by the American group, a like sum to be granted by the Soviet Government, and land of pre-war value of $20,000,000 made available to Jewish settlers.

It is toward this project, that Julius Rosenwald of Chicago last year subscribed $5,000,000 and Felix M. Warburg of New York $1,000,000.

“This is a wonderful achievement,” was the comment of Mr. Rosenberg, in making public this statement, “because when Dr. Rosen was last here in the United States some three months ago, he estimated that it would not be practicable to attempt the settlement of more than 1000 to 1200 additional Jewish families on farms in the Agro-Joint districts during 1929. To a considerable degree the enlargement of the program has been made possible through the substantial aid rendered by the Government of the U. S. S. R. in extending the Jewish land settlement program.

“During 1929, in the district of the Agro-Joint in the Crimea and the Ukraine, a total of Roubles 4,135,895 is to be expended. This is to be borne equally by the American Society and the Comzet (the Rssian Government Department for the Promotion of Agriculture among Jews.) It is especially interesting to note that out of this total, Roubles 3,191,495 are in the form of returnable charges which are to be repaid by the settlers.

“The expenditures will be for seeds, live-stock, tools and implements, tractors, vineyards and orchards, fences, buildings, food and feed loans. In addition the Agro-Joint and the Comzet will assume nearly 1,000,000 Roubles of non-returnable charges for the purpose of land surveys, water supply, building of schools, libraries, and bath-houses, medical assistance to settlers, veterinary service, agricultural and technical assistance and instruction.

“The American Society,” Mr. Rosenberg concluded, “has assumed the obligation to carry on this long-term program and has received at this time subscriptions from Jews in this country totaling approximately $7,850,000. It has consummated the agreement to conduct this work in reliance on the cooperation of the Jews of America. No public campaign or drive to secure these subscriptions has been made, nor will any be carried on. It is felt, however, that in this great constructive work-whereby 200,000 Jews have already been enabled to lift themselves out of the uncertainty and despair of Ghet to life in Russia and to become self-supporting, self-respecting workers on the soil, tilling an area of a million and a half acres of land-men of wealth in this country will recognize an obligation to complete the subscriptions required by the American Society and bring them up to the total of $10,000,000 called for under the agreement.”