(J. T. A. Mall Service)
M. Schlichter, the Ukrainian People’s Commissary for Agriculture and chairman of the All-Ukrainian Committee for Jewish Land Settlement, has in a statement circulated by the Soviet News Agency “Tass,” categorically denied the statement made at the London Conference of the Federation of Jewish Relief Organizations alleging that the Jewish population of the Ukraine is suffering to such an extent that it is dying of hunger.
“The bad crop in the Steppes of the Ukraine,” Schlichter declares, the “Tass” says, “has left the population of the Jewish localities almost entirely untouched.
“As regards Jewish agriculturists living in the Steppes of the Ukraine, the relief measures taken by the Ukrainian Government entirely guarantees them not only from the danger of hunger but from economic desolation. The Government has allotted a sufficient quantity of seed, and I can say quite definitely that the sowing of winter crops in the famine districts, including those occupied by Jewish agriculturists, will not be less than last year.
“Food and forage relief is given to Jewish agriculturists and, first of all, the new settlers, for which purpose the Government has assigned scores of millions of roubles.”
The All-Ukrainian Committee for Jewish Land Settlement also categorically declares that no danger of famine threatens the Jewish population and still less the Jewish colonies of the Southern Ukraine.
The report referred to was circulated by the Federation of Ukrainian Jews in London on the basis of a memorandum by A. Bragin of Moscow, a prominent figure in Moscow government circles.
COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR:
Sir:
The Zionists of America are fortunate in the choice of Professor Mordscai M. Kaplan as chairman of the administrative committee of the Zionist Organization of America. To elect him to that office was a timely and sagacious move.
Professor Kaplan’s numerous and varied attainments, his ardent desire to advance Judaism and his love of the Jewish people and Eretz Israel, coupled with his keen, disinfluence in Jewish intellectual circles, his cerning intellect and profound learning, his organizing and oratical powers and his welloarned and deserved reputation for sincerity of purpose will assure Zionists in their hope of a successful year of achievement for the upbuilding of Palestine and the advancement of cultural as well as “practical” Zionism in America.
Morris Teller Rabbi Cong, Beth Jacob B’nai Bezalel Anahe Misrach Chicago, III., Sept. 20, 1928
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