Says Jews of World Look to United States to Safeguard Palestine Work

The Jews of the wold, as represented at the World Zionist Congress, now meeting in Basle, Switzerland, look to the Jews of the United States to make the supreme effort to safeguard Jewish reconstruction activities in Palestine, according to a statement issued yesterday by Morris Rothenberg, chairman of the American Palestine Campaign, in commenting upon cable dispatches from Basle which reported a huge deficit in the funds for the maintenance of Palestine Jewish enterprises.

Referring to the report on finances that was presented to the international Zionist parley, Mr. Rothenberg said:

“The discussion of Palestine funds at the World Zionist Congress has forcefully called attention to the fundamental need of meeting Jewish obligations in Palestine. Whatever be the status of Jewish relations with the Mandatory Power, the stability of Jewish reconstruction enterprises in Palestine must never be left in doubt.

“Never has the situation of world Jewry been more unfortunate. In most countries the Jewish population is forced to devote itself to securing a mere subsistence for itself. It is true that American Jewry in common with the rest of our country, has been severely hit by the world economic depression. No one can deny, however, that our situation is far from comparable with that of our people in other lands.

“It is with justice, therefore, that the World Zionist Congress looks to the Jews of America to supply the funds which are needed to safeguard Jewish reconstruction activities. That plea to us by world Jewish leaders is not in a spirit of arrogance or command, but is merely in humble recognition of the fact that our circumstances still make it possible to extend ourselves to maintain our work in Palestine.”