Shitlowski Clarifies Aspects of Ecuador Project

The situation regarding proposed settlement of Jews in Ecuador is clarified in a letter received by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today from the Comite Internacional de Inmigracion in Quito over the signatures of Samuel Shitlowski, president of the special mission; Francis Hart, member of the mission; and the secretary of the committee. The letter reads in part:

“It is our wish to make clear once and for all the exact situation in respect to the contract for colonization in Ecuador. The agreement between our Comite Internacional de Inmigracion and the government of Ecuador was ratified by supreme decree on Oct. 3, 1935 and the definite contract ceding over a million acres of land for the uses of colonization to our comite is already in full force.

“The organization, Emcol, as a Jewish national society, forms a part of the Comite Internacional de Inmigracion which we represent in Ecuador, but it does not, as Emcol, have any agreement with the Ecuadorean Government. The program of our comite, which we believe is the only real possibility for effective colonization work at this time, is international in scope and the agreement with the government of Ecuador is based on this program.

“Yet, while the contract is not designed exclusively for Jewish immigration, there is, however, under its provisions the most ample opportunities for the development of the work of Jewish immigration. Such work must of necessity have as its principle aim the establishment of agricultural colonies, preferably cooperative in internal structure, to comply with the exigencies of the present economic character of this nation. The rural economy which prevails here does not at the moment permit the incursion of large groups of people desirous of entering commerce or industry on a large scale.”