European Press Comments on Report of Jewish Agency Commission

Opinions Vary Along Party Lines; English Papers Divided (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Anglo-Jewish press commented in its issues of today on the report of the Jewish Agency Commission. The editorial of the “Jewish Guardian,” entitled “A Great Survey,” declares that the Commission’s report is a document demanding the most serious attention of all Jews concerned in the upbuilding of Palestine. Its decisions on many controversial questions combine Jewish idealism with the practical necessities of the situation, it states.

Perfect harmony was reached between the Zionist and non-Zionist members of the Commission, the paper proceeds, which was possible because the survey dealt not with political questions and opinions, but the hard realities of economic facts. The Guardian emphasizes the Commission’s bold declaration regarding Jewish immigration to Palestine, its friendly but pointed recommendations concerning the responsibilities attached to the Mandatory and the necessity of world Jewry to contribute a minimum of a million pounds yearly, if the great experiment in Palestine is to be justified in the eyes of the world.

“The road for the cooperation of Zionists and non-Zionists in upbuilding Palestine is open,” the paper declares.

The “Jewish Chronicle” does not take such an optimistic attitude toward the report, which, it states was published under the auspices of the Zionist Organization and with the concurence of the Zionist leader, yet contains no word promoting and encouraging the Jewish national idea, but only philanthropy with its demeaning implications. It must have the effect of further dangerously de-souling the Zionist idea.

It seems the assistance of non-Zionists is purchasable only by the abnegation of the very purposes for which the movement was established, the Chronicle proceeds. The report of the Commission is concerned with the mere upbuilding of Palestine, while Zionism is concerned with the upbuilding of Palestine as a Jewish land.

The “Near East,” said to express the opinion of the Colonial Office, says that the experiences in recent years have shown that Palestine is peculiarly susceptible to the changes in world trade. It has already had two periods of severe economic depression, demonstrating the limited scope of Palestine for certain classes of settlers. In the initial stages of development, traders must be restricted, the “Near East” states. Their opportunity will come when the foundations of the country are well laid.

The Commission’s optimism of further development depends mainly on finance, the paper proceeds. A million pounds is a substantial sum, but considering the number of wealthy Jews in the world, it is not impossible to attain., if the Jews as a whole are imbued with enthusiasm for the progress of the country with which they are indelibly associated.