The offices of Agro-Yid, the Jewish organization established to stimulate the migration of Polish Jews to Soviet Russia, were closed today by authorities following an investigation.
Numerous documents concerning the activities of the Agro-Yid were confiscated. Dr. M. Suritz, one of the leading members of the organization, has resigned. Suritz recently was delegated by the Agro-Yid to go to Moscow and negotiate with the Soviet government to admit Jews from Poland to the autonomous district of Biro-Bidjan, in the Far East.
CLOSING FOLLOWS DRIVE
Closing of the Agro-Yid followed the campaign which this office stated among impoverished Jews to leave Poland for Biro-Bidjan. Though the Soviet government made it clear that it would not recognize the Agro-Yid as the group qualified to organize the immigration of Polish Jews to the Soviet Jewish region, this organization continued its activities, which consisted chiefly of issuing propaganda for Biro-Bidjan.
With the resignation of Dr. Suritz, who is known in Poland as an impartial Jewish leader, the Agro-Yid organization became still more under control of left-wing elements and aroused the suspicions of Polish authorities. The organization has been in existence for about six months.
APPROVAL ALLEGEDLY GIVEN
Plans were already formed by the Agro-Yid for transportation of the first thousand Jews from Poland to Biro-Bidjan, with the approval of the Soviet government. This approval allegedly was given in Moscow to Dr. Suritz when he visited Soviet President Michael Kalinin recently and presented him with memorandum on the plight of Polish Jewry.
A copy of this memorandum was also submitted by Dr. Suritz to the Polish Ambassador in Moscow. Ne-
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