Simon Sees Haifa Thriving Industrial Center of 100,000

work of the Palestine Economic Corporation more especially in the help given to cooperative institutions the value of which I am personally acquainted. I also hope it may be possible to continue and extend the construction of workers’ dwellings. I have nothing but praise for the work of Mr. Mohl and others in this direction. In your annual report you rightly stress the need for the increase of facilities at our ports and communications. These matters are receiving my personal attention and I hear today that work at Haifa and Jaffa ports progresses favorably. The government is devoting larger sums each year to the construction of new roads. “

WARBURG STRESSES PROGRESS

Felix M. Warburg, honorary president of the corporation, who presided at the meeting, stressed the progress made by the company in aiding industry and the cooperative movement.

“Economic work,” he said, “of the kind done by the Palestine Economic Corporation and the medical work done by Hadassah for all sections of the population, are the surest way to bring the Jews and Arabs together for their common good and the benefit of that fascinating country, Palestine. Jewish capital has helped to eradicate malaria. Jewish enterprise in industry, in orange growing and in developing the natural resources of the country has given employment to thousands of Jews and Arabs. It is gratifying to see that Jewish and Arab workers have formed themselves into trade unions and that Arabs have become investors in the industries being established by Jewish capital. These are the best indications in the daily life of the two peoples, the bridge is being built that will unite them. “

SPEAKS ON REFUGEES

Charles J. Leibman spoke of the efforts now being made by the Refugee Rehabilitation Committee to organize a corporation which will concern itself with the economic settlement of German refugees in whatever countries have or may receive them.

Referring to the Palestine Economic Corporation, he said: “Having in the past given proof of the necessity of the economic approach in caring for those seeking a new land, and having demonstrated its efficiency, it was but natural that those who were conversant with the German Jewish refugee situation should look upon the Palestine Economic Corporation as the prototype for other similar organizations to be presently called into being. It followed too, more particularly, that the Palestine Economic Corporation would in itself constitute the instrument for the alleviation of the condition of more thousands of homeless, who through its efficient organization would be provided with domestic and economic tranquillity not only in Palestine but also in the adjoining Mediterranean countries—Syria, Turkey and Egypt, to the extent that such countries would absorb refugees.

LAUDS WARBURGS

“Mr. and Mrs. Felix M. Warburg with their usual generosity have subscribed a large sum to the Refugee Rehabilitation Committee and have requested that the lion’s share, if and when called, be placed at the disposal of the Palestine Economic Corporation in order to utilize in Palestine and the Eastern Mediterranean countries its knowledge of local conditions and its proved efficiency. It is a comforting thought for the Refugee Rehabilitation Committee that the experience and competency of the Palestine Economic Corporation are available in the East. “

Governor Lehman, who has been a vice-president of the corporation since its inception, in regretting his inability to attend the meeting wrote Mr. Flexner as follows:

“I recall that when the Corporation was conceived in 1925, doubts were expressed that a corporation with social economic aims, pursuing at the same time strictly business methods, could operate successfully in Palestine. Not only has time proven these doubts to be groundless even though the Corporation has pioneered in many fields, but in addition, it has been able to initiate the payment of dividends on the common stock. It is, however, especially gratifying to know that the Corporation has helped so much in the economic progress of Palestine during the last eight years and that Palestine today is able to absorb such large num-