Sir Herbert Samuel Reports on Conditions to Actions Committee

Sir Herbert Samuel, High Commissioner of Palestine, was present today at the meeting of the Actions Committee of the World Zionist Organization.

In an address on the situation in Palestine, he stated that in the last four years the country has made substantial progress. In the last two years, work has been going on under more tranquil conditions than in the past. Immigration has continued on a smaller scale than desired, but this, he stated, depends entirely upon the economic progress of the country. Recen##ry, however, an important increase in immigration has been recorded.

“When I visited, in the year 1920, the Valley of Jezreel,” Sir Herbert continued. “there was not one Jewish colonist in the vicinity. Now there are flourishing Jewish settlements, made up of some of the best elements.

“The industrial exhibition in Tel-Aviv revealed the development of Palestinian industry and was a convincing indication that Palestine may become the industrial center of the Middle-East within our generation. The Government is now revising the customs tariff in order to create better facilities for manufacturing in the country, so that the demand of the neighboring countries, which constitute a good market, may be supplied.”

Concerning the plan for the formation of the Jewish Agency, Sir Herbert Samuel stated that, in his opinion, it was desirable to enlarge the ranks of those who are helping in the

upbuilding of Palestine, and to secure the co-operation of all elements in Jewry.

A number of questions were asked Sir Herbert Samuel by the members of the Actions Committee with regard to immigration, the nationality law and the Community Ordinance, which is now being considered by the Colonial Office.