the general debate by Moshe Shapiro, a delegate of the Hapoel Hamizrachi, the orthodox Laborite group. Mr. Shapiro expressed his appreciation of the political and financial achievements of the Executive, but protested against the favoritism displayed by the Executive in the distribution of immigration certificates.
HITS SPECULATION
“The speculation in land is the biggest plague for Palestine,” Mr. Ben-Chorin, representing the Revisionists, complained before the Actions Committee during the general debate. Mr. Ben-Chorin criticized the present Zionist Executive. The political activities of the Executive are nothing but a chain of improvisations, he said. Some of them are unintentionally Revisionistic.
The present Zionist Executive, Mr. Ben-Chorin declared, has no economic program. It is not able to conduct the development of the country. It cannot combat the economic difficulties and the speculation. “We have always been for peace in the Zionist ranks on the basis of greater Zionism,” Mr. Ben-Chorin said, outlining the viewpoint of the Revisionists.
UPHOLD DISCIPLINE
Mr. D. Remez, speaking in behalf of the Laborites, stated that no Executive has done so much as the present. “We will not expel the Revisionists but discipline within the Zionist ranks must be sustained. Nobody will be allowed to break up the existing Zionist institutions,” he said.
Engineer Reiss, representing the Zionist Laborites of Poland concluded today’s session with an argument against the conception of separate organizations in Zionism.
Five commissions have been appointed today at the close of the session to prepare resolutions. The political committee will consist of nine members. The organization committee will have fourteen members. The finance committee and the immigration committee consist of nine members each. The fifth committee appointed is for the special purpose of dealing with the transfer of the remains of Dr. Herzl from Vienna to Palestine.
REJECTS PARLEY PLAN
Reporting to the Action Committee in behalf of the World Zionist Executive, Mr. Locker rejected the proposal made by {SPAN} Jabot#nsky{/SPAN} to call a Round-Table conference for reaching peace in the Zionist Organization.
“The Zionist Organization,” Mr. Locker said, “is carrying on state functions which necessitate internal discipline for internal work and general discipline for the Zionist foreign policy.”
Mr. Locker explained that the change in the text of the Shekel, which is aimed to prevent the Revisionists from participating in the next Zionist Congress if they do not submit to party discipline, is not an innovation. It is simply a result of the resolutions adopted by the last Congress.
SEES “FURTHER MEASURES”
Mr. Locker announced that “further measures will be taken to strengthen the discipline within the Zionist Organization.”
Mr. M. Kaplan, member of the Zionist Executive in charge of the treasury department, reported on the financial progress of the Executive. Seventy per cent of the increased income of the Executive will be spent for new colonization, and only seven per cent for payments of debts, while the previous Executives spent their budgets in assigning fifty per cent to pay debts and only ten per cent for investments.
Mr. Kaplan announced that preparations are being made for the formation of two banks, one for small manufacturers and the other for settlers, in which the Executive will invest a quarter of a million dollars on condition that Jewish labor only should be employed by those enjoying credits at this bank. The Executive will also invest capital in the Palestine Land Development Company for developing the Huleh concession, whereby fifty per cent of the land there will be reserved for the Jewish National Fund.
MISS SZOLD REPORTS
Miss Henrietta Szold addressing the Action Committee described the wonderful effects which Palestine had on five hundred Jewish children from Germany which were placed in Palestine institutions for study and work. Miss Szold was given an ovation when she reminded the Action Committee that fifty years ago the Jewish community in America, numbering then a quarter of a million persons, organized relief for a large wave of Jewish immigrants from Czarist Russia. “Now,” Miss Szold said, “American Jews number five million. The quarter of a million Jews in Palestine follow the same line in organizing immigration aid for Jews from Germany. I hope that it will also reach the same mass increase in a period equal to that of the United States.”
Moshe Shertok, member of the Zionist Executive in charge of the political department, reported on the political work of the Jewish Agency. He stated that while last year the labor schedule under which the Palestine government grants its immigration certificates was stationary, it is now progressing. This shows that the government has not fixed any immutable limits for Jewish immigration, he asserted.
IMMIGRATION REPORT
Mr. Shertok emphasized that the growing acuteness of land shortage in Palestine is not only a problem because it stimulates land speculation but also because it stimulates Arab hostility and threatens with restrictive legislation of land sales to Jews.
“The possibilities of Jewish settlement in Transjordan are definitely on the horizon, just like the possibility of obtaining the Huleh concession has been on our horizon for many years,” Mr. Shertok stated. “The Jordan is never but deep enough for one attempting to jump for drowning. We must build bridges and work patiently, stolidly, never relaxing.”
Mr. Shertok also reported that the growing economic importance of Palestine as a result of Jewish efforts has made Palestine an important factor for the British Empire in the entire Middle-East. This opens new approaches for tackling the Arab problem and for cementing the Jewish relations with Great Britain, in view of the harmonizing Jewish-British-Arab interests.
“The increased opportunities in Palestine and the economic and political achievements necessitate the creation of strong instruments in the hands of the Jewish Agency. The large loan which we obtained from the Lloyd’s Bank in London is a stepping-stone thereto. The success of the political work of the Jewish Agency depends on the ability of utilizing opportunities and winning them,” Mr. Shertok further stated.
Mr. Shertok concluded by urging that the Executive of the Jewish Agency should be given the possibility to consolidate its position by eliminating the chaos which irresponsible elements are bringing into the Zionist movement.
Isaac Greenbaum, member of the Zionist Executive in charge of the Immigration Department, reported on the Jewish immigration achievements. Dr. Ruppin reported on the settlement of German Jews in Palestine.
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