Report on Jews in Russia Heard by Soviet National Minorities Conference

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

The situation of Russian Jewry was the subject of wide discussion at today’s session of the conference of representatives of the national minorities in the Soviet Union.

Michael Kalinin, president of the Union, in addressing the conference declared that the government is striving to improve the condition of the national minorities. However, the difficulty lies in the limited economic possibilities.

Dossoff, Assistant Secretary of the Central Executive Committee, reported on the government’s view of the national minorities work, emphasizing especially the work being done to aid the Jewish population. Although the Jews are culturally more developed than the other minorities, he said, their present economic condition is poor and the government is trying its best to help through colonization and industrialization.

The Jews who have been colonized, have succeeded on the land as well as the old peasants.

B. Garfinkl reported to the conference that the Jewish population in the Briansk district are being encouraged as workers in the large industries. In the city Rudnia, Smolensk district, the business of the municipality is conducted in Yiddish.

A special sum to help the declassed Jews in the small towns of Moldavia will be assigned by the Ukrainian government, it was learned. The purpose of this fund will be to industrialize the towns Dubossary and Rashkoff and others where the majority of the population is Jewish. The artisan cooperatives will be developed and others established to meet local conditions.

The transfer of unemployed Jewish youth to cities where they may obtain employment, is also planned. Others will be assisted to settle on the land in other parts of Russia. Some will be assisted to settle in Modavia, credits being granted to them.

The government also plans the opening of trade schools and the granting of loans to the credit kassas. Where ever the Jewish population is in the majority. Jewish Soviets will be created. The Soviet of Dubossary was instructed to begin immediately the transaction of all business in Yiddish.

A million roubles is expected to be raised for Jewish colonization among Jewish and Russian workers through the new lottery being conducted by the Ozet. The decision to conduct the lottery was taken following the success of the first lottery which brought half a million roubles for the Ozet activities.