A proposal to settle a certain limited number of Jewish refugees from Germany in the british east African colony of kenya is now under study by the Colonial Office, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is authoritatively informed. So far the inquiry into the possibilities of such settlement, which is exclusively of an agricultural nature, is still in the initial stages, and consequently it is premature to speak of a definite scheme.
(it is known, however, that a group of prominent Kenya residents together with London financial interests have drawn up a definite scheme.)
It is understood that the Colonial Office is considering the possibility of settling some refugees on crown land. authoritative quarters point out that the inquiry must bear in mind that Kenya’s white settlers number about 17,000, of whom only 2,000 are farmers. Though official quarters are reluctant even to discuss the approximate number of refugees for whom room might be found in Kenya, it is generally understood that the number cannot be very large.
Despite the cautious attitude of official circles it is believed that even if the number is not large, the success of the plan may give a lead to the empire which would have far-reaching results. So far as Kenya is concerned, the Jewish telegraphic agency is informed that the white population is anxious to see the scheme succeed, and that there is no anti-Semitism in the colony. Any failure, however, of the first parties of refugees would have an unfortunate effect on public opinion; for this reason, it is held, selection of settlers must be most stringent and the settlement must be by stages to avoid the appearance of “dumping.”
The authorities also warn against a drift to the towns, which would result in an Immediate outcry that would “wreck the plan. it is believed that the settlers, in view of the limited amount of capital, would best engage in mixed farming. a small Jewish colony already exists in Kenya, and the settlement plan, when it matures, will be carried out with the help of the local Jewish community.
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.
