Soviet Urged to Increase Allotments and Work to Aid Declassed Jews

The extension of the work to bring relief to the declassed Jewish population in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics was urged at a meeting of the praesidium of the National Minorities Council of the Wzik, Central Executive Committee, which was in session here for several days.

Vice-president Smidovitch submitted a report on the work of the Comzet, the government department for Jewish land settlement. During the discussion which developed, the opinion was expressed that the government should increase its budgetary allotments to help the Jewish population. The praesidium drew attention to a number of mistakes noticeable in the work of the Comzet, particularly the slow tempo of the Jewish agrarianization, as well as the efforts to industrialize the impoverished Jewish masses. Too little attention is being paid to helping the Jewish artisans, it was pointed out.

The praesidium of the National Minorities Council recommended to the Comzet to submit to the government a detailed plan for settling on the land 100,000 Jewish families. The praesidium further recommended that the local authorities be urged to undertake the establishment of industrial plants in the towns populated by Jews as well as to allot the necessary funds for providing technical training for the Jewish youth. The praesidium also outlined a plan for developing the crafts in Jewish regions.

An article published yesterday in the Moscow Communist daily “Emes,” comments on the decisions of the National Minorities Council praesidium, declaring: “Our friends abroad, particularly those in the United States, should remember that the Jewish masses in Soviet Russia are not without hope. They are not step-children in Soviet Russia. The task to put them on a sound economic basis is in sure and strong hands. If there is anyone abroad who wishes sincerely to help, he will find the door open,” the paper states.