The conviction that “Zionism will ultimately triumph” in Palestine was expressed today by Prime Minister Jan Christian Smuts in a message to a meeting opening the South African campaign of the Palestine Foundation Fund (Keren Hayesod).
Declaring that the present fears with regard to the Palestine land act, under which Jewish land purchases are drastically limited, may prove groundless, General Smuts said:
“Nothing has happened either in this case or in previous apparent setbacks of Zionism, to make me falter in my belief that it will ultimately triumph. It has had bad weather all the way in the last 20 years but despite discouragements has made headway, until today the face of Palestine has been transformed and is enjoying some measure of its ancient prosperity. It will continue until Zion once more has securely rebuilt the homeland of the ancient people.”
Col. Deneys Reits, Minister of Native Affairs, greeted the meeting in the name of the South African Government, which he said was deeply interested in Zionist aims. Supreme Court Justice Leopold Greenberg presided.
Bronislaw Huberman, violinist and founder of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, arrived here yesterday and was given a cordial welcome.
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