No New Issue, Only an Old One, Intensified

time; and I shall oppose any leadership which by reason of its character, its bad economics, its vaccilation of purpose or its ultimate objective of a cultural restricted ghetto in Palestine, would accomplish the same results.

JEWS ATTACHED TO THE SOIL

Of course, the Congress must adopt controlling principles which work for a sound economy in Palestine, for a balanced economy with the maximum amount of available soil in Jewish hands and the maximum number of Jews attached to the soil. Of course, also, we all dream of an ultimate society which will afford social justice to all the inhabitants of the land, which will be a prototype to be emulated in the future throughout the world. Our prophets who thundered to the people of these things in ancient days did not speak in vain. Those of little faith today express their fears that Palestine will be overridden by Jewish undesirables; and they would limit newcomers to a particular mold. They would have a cultural centre, a picked few, and in result another ghetto.

They prate of cultural and spiritual values, as if such things were the monopoly of a special type of Jews. The trouble with them is that they forget that the true fruition of such values can only come with and on the basis of a large Jewish population. Without such a real National Home, nothing will result; with it, all may evolve. Cultural and spiritual values will inevitably come, nay, are even now being engendered. Palestine will solve its own future destiny. The Yishub will work out its own form of society. We cannot do it from without. The normal Jew, who comes to Palestine, and who breathes its air, must sooner or later be permeated with the ideals of the movement, which first of all demands a Jewish National Home. On that score I have no doubts.

17TH CONGRESS AS MODEL

One short way to put the issues to come before the Congress is; Will the 18th Congress maintain the advances made by the 17th Congress?

At the 17th Congress in Basle in 1931, the movement stood up. It held up its head. It shook off the attitude of former years that said all was well, that only small achievements are possible, that we are grateful for what little we get. The 17th Congress took a dignified yet firm stand with reference to the Government administration in Palestine, and to the Mandatory power. It spoke of Transjordan. The movement took an upright position with reference to itself. For years prior to the 17th Congress, the movement internally had gone downward. Progress in Palestine had been beset with difficulties. Rights under the mandate were being cut down, and the leaders yielded acquiescence.

Practically no attention was devoted to economic entrenchment. The 17th Zionist Congress broke with this past, and gave impulse to the determination to go forward. Resolutions were recently adopted by the Z.O.A. Administration and by the Z.O.A. Chicago Convention, particularly with reference to immigration certificates, to the Legislative Council, to the threatened income tax, to employment on public works, to the use of Government funds for health and education, taxes, allocation of the proceeds of any new loan, and especially Transjordan; and from these resolutions, it appears that the spirit of the Seventeenth Congress, as largely and effectively implemented by the Agency Executive in the past two years will carry forward.

LESSON OF THE 17TH

The 17th Congress also took a significant step in relation to the economic program. It faced realities. The desire rapidly to increase Jewish immigration and the absorptive capacity of Palestine led to consideration of concrete ways and means. The genuine opportunities for large, sound economic development began to be appreciated. Obviously, the most potent means of acceleration of immigration was to afford to individual Jews, with private capital the information and facilities which would permit them to engage in the upbuilding.

I do not for a moment imply that the increase in Jewish population in the last two years is altogether due to the resolutions of the 17th Congress on the economic program and to the encouragement of private initiative resultant therefrom nor do I imply that the great increase in bank deposits, in exports, in Government surplus, and that the absence of unemployment in Palestine are altogether due to the efficient attention of the member of the Agency Executive who had the responsibility to carry out such resolutions. I think it beyond dispute, however, that it is the duty of the forthcoming Congress to take note of the economic progress of the past two years, and to charge the incoming executive with instructions for facilitating this vital means of securing the Jewish National. Home.