The assertion that the statement of Michael Kalenin, President of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics regarding the Jewish colonization plan in Russia is a vindication of the criticism made by the Zionists against the colonization plan is contained in a statement by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, vice-president of the Zionist Organization of America and member of the World Zionist Executive, issued yesterday by the headquarters of the Zionist Organization.
“Kalenin’s statement is an official acknowledgement on the part of the Soviet Government that the Crimean colonization project was launched by the Russian Bolshevists as a counter foil to Palestine and indirectly also as a move against Great Britain,” Rabbi Silver declared in the statement.
“The Zionist Organization has for a long time been in possession of evidence concerning these ulterior motives actuating the Bolshevist protagonists in Russia of this colonization scheme, but has consistently refrained from making use of its findings so as not to hurt the important and necessary relief campaigns which were launched throughout the United States in behalf of the Jews of Eastern Europe. In spite of the implied antagonism to Palestine in the colonization project, the Zionist have actively cooperated in the relief campaigns throughout the country, but they have at all time regarded with misgiving this headlong movement fraught with so much uncertainty and danger.
“We have never questioned the sincerity of the leaders of the American Joint Distribution Committee, but we hope that they will be impressed by the startling disclosures contained in Kalenin’s statement, and that they will be cautious in embarking further upon any extension of their colonization program.”
“The Kalenin statement,” Rabbi Silver continued, “bears out the prediction that the settlement of Jews in Crimea would create a menacing anti-Jewish movement among the Crimean peasants. That such a hostile movement has already taken on serious proportions is indicated by the fact that Kalenin himself found it necessary to counteract it by an official appeal to the people of Crimea.
“One is disturbed, too, by the fact that according to the statement of Kalenin, the land placed at the disposal of Jewish settlers in Crimea is of an inferior quality, such as the Russian peasants could not use and such as will require the investment of millions of dollars on the part of American Jews before it can be made available for cultivation,” the statement concluded.
Two cottages, the gift of David Myers to the Woodland Country Home, Baltimore. Md., were dedicated recently. Addresses were delivered by Judge Jacob M. Moses, Rabbi Ed ward L. Israel, Sidney Lansburgh and Isaac A. Oppenheim.
Established in 1914, the home is used to provide vacations for needy women and children. Over two hundred and fifty mothers and children are cared for annually.
The Myers gift, a memorial to Eva Ries Myers will enable 400 people to receive a vacation.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
