Soviet Opens Bureya to 4,500 Alien Jews

An important decision, which may have far-reaching effects on the fate of many thousands of Jews in Poland and other East European countries was adopted today by the Soviet government, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns.

The decision provides for the mass admission of Jewish immigrants from Poland and other countries into Biro-Bidjan, the Far Eastern Jewish autonomous Soviet district which neighbors Manchukuo.

SET CONDITIONS

A first contingent of 4,500 Jews from abroad will be admitted into Biro-Bidjan, according to today’s decision, under the following conditions:

1. They must be selected from elements fitting the requirements of the industrial and agricultural work in Biro-Bidjan.

2. They must consist of 1,000 families and 500 single men.

3. The selection is to be conducted under the supervision of representatives of foreign Jewish relief organizations and Soviet experts.

4. Preference is to be given to building workers and to artisans.

TO BE ADMITTED IN ONE YEAR

This first group of foreign Jewish immigrants, which must not exceed 4,500, will be admitted within the period of 1935-1936, the decision adopted today by the Soviet Government states.

The official text of the decision will be published within the next few days, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency has been informed from the highest authorities. Meanwhile, details under which the immigration from abroad will be conducted, are still to be worked out.

Dr. Joseph Rosen, head of the Agro-Joint, who is now in Moscow, is studying details of how to settle the first group of Jewish immigrants from Poland. It is understood that the Agro-Joint will undertake the responsibility for settling several hundred Jewish families in Biro-Bidjan this year, as an experiment. Similarly, the ORT is also interested in promoting the settlement of foreign Jews, particularly Jews from Poland, in the Bureya.