Comzet and Ozet Leaders Pessimistic Regarding Immigration to Jewish Regions

Pessimism with regard to the immigration to the Jewish regions scheduled for the year 1933 was expressed here by leaders of the Comzet, the governmental department for settling Jews on the land and in industry, and of the Ozet, Jewish land settlement organization, at a conference held here in the offices of the “Emess”.

Boris Trotski, the Comzet director, reported that the information reaching his organization from the Ukraine indicates that Jewish regions there are unprepared to receive the scheduled number of 2,400 immigrant families.

Reporting on the situation in Bira Bidjan, the Far Eastern district where an autonomous Jewish region is to be set up, the secretary of the Central Ozet, Eidelman, pointed out that the

situation there shows no improvement over that of last year.

He expressed doubt whether Bira Bidjan will be in a position to absorb even half of the 25,000 persons scheduled to migrate there in the coming year.

The position is somewhat better in Crimea where two hundred new dwellings for immigrants have been prepared, it was reported. The collectives, however, are unwilling to absorb more than 500 families, although the schedule provides for 1500 families, the report declared.

Moreover the question of food supply and livestock for the newcomers to Crimea presents difficulties.

Tendencies to apply extreme conditions to the quality of the immigrants to be selected will be combatted, the conference decided. This will apply equally to those who demand that only declassed be sent to Bira Bidjan and that no workers be taken away from their present employment and to the group which demands that the declassed be barred from immigration.

The new slogan for immigration for 1933 will call on both workers and declassed to proceed to the colonies.

Another departure from previous policy, which it is believed will obviate confusion, will be the signing of agreements with the colonies for the number of workers required for the seasonal work so that accommodation and work will be waiting for immigrants upon their arrival.