Warburg Sees Need for Continuance of American Financial Aid to Needy Jews of Eastern Europe and for

The need for the continuance of financial assistance by the Jews of the United States for their needy brethren in Poland, Roumania, Russia and other countries in Eastern Europe, as well as for translating the hopeful and optimistic outlook in Palestine into reality in order to lay a safe foundation for the Jews there and for their progress in the future, was emphasized by Felix M. Warburg, noted American philanthropist, in an interview here today with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Mr. Warburg who, as chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Agency, which concluded its sessions here Tuesday night, has been in close touch with the Palestine situation, and as chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee has been in personal contact with the representatives of the Committee and with many Jewish leaders from the various countries in which the Committee operates declared that “the need for the continuance of American aid for our people abroad is so clearly apparent that I am convinced that if the additional knowledge that I have acquired since I have been abroad could be brought home to our friends in America, their financial aid would be forthcoming more quickly and more generously than has thus far met the efforts of the Allied Jewish Campaign.”

The Allied Jewish Campaign is seeking $6,000,000 in the United States for the needy Jews in Eastern Europe and for the Jewish National Home in Palestine.

Mr. Warburg pointed out that what these Jewish leaders had told him regarding the present situation in Eastern Europe in addition to the reports which he constantly receives in New York, “confirms only too fully the pitiable plight in which our people find themselves in these lands. These direct contacts with persons of unquestioned authority and reputation serve to bring the tragic picture into bolder relief, and to strengthen our profound conviction that our people abroad are in the greatest need of immediate aid from our American brethren.”

Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the American Jewish Committee, and Bernard Flexner, of the Palestine Economic Corporation, who participated with Mr. Warburg in the conferences at which these reports were received, are at one with Mr. Warburg, he said, “in the positive conviction that the time for us to relax our aid to our suffering brethren is still unfortunately far off.

“The report, among others, of Morris D. Waldman, secretary of the American Jewish Committee, who has just completed a thorough investigation of our people in Roumania and Poland, and Dr. Joseph A. Rosen’s report on Russia, which he has made to us during our presence here, make us feel that it is imperative that we impress people at home with the facts that they must not permit their doubts and personal fears over the present and temporary economic situation in the United States to prevent their fullest participation in the effort to contribute generously in behalf of our brethren overseas, who are the real sufferers—hundreds of thousands of them—and not in our blessed United States, even if the outlook there is not so rosy temporarily.”

Referring to Palestine, Mr. Warburg said, “For the first time in months we feel that with proper financial support, constructive progress can be made in Palestine. We also feel much encouraged that the Mandates Commission reported on the need of more sympathetic action on the part of the Palestine government, and the answer made by the British Colonial office shows an intention to improve conditions.

TALKED WITH PASSFIELD

“From a most friendly talk with Lord Passfield, Minister of Colonial Affairs, we are permitted to say that he is prepared to recommend the granting of credits to the Palestine government to improve colonization facilities for both Arabs and Jews and for land development in general. He also advised us that the government is about to consider an immigration schedule for the ensuing period. He assured us that the police and military forces in Palestine are sufficient guarantees for the safety of all; that the government intends to promote friendly relations between different groups by enabling them to participate in local and administrative affairs; and that he felt certain that the Arabs would cooperate with the Government as the Jews had always been prepared to do.”

The forthcoming report of Sir John Hope Simpson, Mr. Warburg believes, augurs well for active work by the Palestine government with the assistance of the Colonial Office. “Financial help,” he said, “is needed from the Jews of the world to translate all these hopeful and encouraging measures into reality, which will be the means of laying a safe foundation for the Jews in Palestine and for their progress and future.”

Concluding with a request that his greetings be conveyed to the people at home, “who know I will not stay their hand but help carry on,” Mr. Warburg declared, “nowhere will benefits show more quickly and prevent disaster to human beings, their bodies and souls, than in money wisely expended in so many different countries, and nowhere will constructive efforts be more quickly awarded and make permanent the progress already made with the help of our efforts, than in the countries of Eastern Europe and Palestine.”