World Migration Congress Will Hear a Report on Palestine Immigration

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The question of Palestine is dealt with in the report submitted to the World Migration Congress to be held here on June 22.

The report, which is entitled "World Migration and Labor," was drawn up by Mr. John W. Brown, the Secretary of the International Federation of Trades Unions.

The statistics of immigration into Palestine since 1920, he reports, are as follows: 1920, 4,111; 1921, 8,517; 1922, 9,286; 1923, 9,769 or 7,991; and 1924, 17,372, making a total for the five years of nearly 50,000, of whom about 18,000 were unmarried, and over 21,000 dependents. The Jewish population of Palestine, which was about 55,000 in November, 1918, is now about 108,000.

The countries whence the immigrants come are very numerous, but the chief sources of supply are Russia and Poland. The Soviet Government gave no permits for leaving Russia before the end of 1923, therefore Russian Jews came in illegally from other countries, being reckoned with those of these countries. For 1924, the respective proportions were: Poland, 6,670; Russia, 3,112; other countries, 7,560. It has now become more difficult for Jews to leave Russia. The present immigration to Palestine is said to be about 3,500 Jews per month. The immigration into Palestine during the first nine months of 1925 was 27,604. Only those Jews may leave Russia who are expelled for their membership of the Zionist or Zionist-Socialist Labor Party. The Polish immigration rose considerably on account of the difficult economic and political situation of Jews in Poland. In general, there has been during 1925 a large increase of family immigration, especially from Poland, the report states.

Immigrant Jewish workers know before entering Palestine that in all probability they will be unable to find work in their own trades: for the great demand of the country is for land-workers and building workers, and comparatively few Jews are engaged in these trades in other countries. A very large percentage therefore, give up their own, even skilled, trades in order to do unskilled manual work. Only within the last three years are arrangements being made for workers’ organizations to send over thousands of experienced workers in the constructional trades and in farm-work. Clothing workers, in particular, who are very numerous among the Jewish communities in other countries, are often compelled either to train for other skilled work or to do unskilled work.

The report outlines the new immigration Ordinance issued in June, 1925. The general Federation of Jewish Labor (in Palestine) it states, complains that in this legislation the Jews are treated as foreigners in disregard of the Balfour Declaration. It also points out that Jews in Poland and Roumania give up their citizenship of those countries to come to Palestine, and then even after long training for the new occupations which they will have to adopt in Palestine and after having obtained a visa, they are liable to be refused admittance. This is a very serious hardship, which ought not to be inflicted: for the immigrant often borrows money for his journey, and has perhaps, spent years of his life in preparing for it. Various other complaints are made by the General Federation of Jewish Labor concerning the working of the Immigration Act. On account of these grievances, the Zionist Organization passed a resolution at its congress of 1925. It is declared that the Mandate for Palestine expressly stipulates or the facilitation of Jewish immigration by the Mandatory authorities, and that the earlier Jewish immigration had with infinite effort laid the foundations for the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. But the present law is in contradiction to the provisions of the Mandate, so that the Congress demanded its repeal. The General Federation of Jewish Labor therefore calls upon British comrades and comrades in the International by their influence to secure the abolition of the law.

The Council of the General Federation of Jewish Labor expected a strong immigration from Russia and called upon all organizations to promote this Russian immigration. There should be an increase in the quota allotted to Russia: Russia should receive half the quota given to the He’Chalutz.

The Jewish population of Palestine has more than doubled in five years, and is growing at the rate of 30%. It is showing great activity in many fields, partly as a result of the vast resources placed at its command by outside Jews, partly as the result of the policy of good will towards the Arabs, partly to become the most important industrial centre in the Middle East. If a good harbor is constructed. Palestine will also become a centre of commercial activity. The Jewish agricultural colonies are expected to become self-supporting in a few years. The great cultural activities of the country are also a good indication of its future career, the report concludes.