Emigrant Jews Drop from 45,000 in 1929 to 23,000 in 1931, Reports of Hicem Show

The number of emigrant Jews has dropped from 45,000 in 1929 to 23,000 in 1931 and a further decrease is to be expected in 1932, according to the reports delivered at a meeting of the Administrative Council and the Executive Committee of the Association for Emigration Hias-Ica-Emigdirect, held here.

Compared with non-Jewish emigration movements, the drop in the Jewish per centage is not so large, stated the speakers. In 1932, while the Jewish emigration from Poland dropped 50 percent as compared with 1930, the non-Jewish emigration during the same period showed a fall of 75 percent.

During the first four months of 1932, 2600 emigrant Jews left Poland, Roumania and Lithuania. These figures show a decrease of 26 percent as compared with the migration during the same period of 1931.

The reports emphasized the special attention paid by the Hicem to France which has become a very important centre for continental Jewish emigration. This continental emigration has become so excessive that it became necessary to regulate it, the reports stated. Upon the initiative of the Hicem a meeting held in Luxemburg in March united the representatives of Jewish organizations of Central and Eastern Europe which protect continental migrants.

Despite the crisis, the Hicem has persisted in studying immigration possibilities, according to the reports. Thus a Central Committee has been formed for Chile, and a mission has been sent to Spain while steps have been taken to organize in Madrid and Barcelona committees to protect emigrants.

Present at the meetings were Sir Leonard Cohen, D. J. Blau, A. Benjamin, Dr. J. Brutzkus, Dr. Oscar Cohn, O. D’Avigdor Goldsmid, M. Joachimsohn, Dr. A. Klee, M. Kreinin, Prof. E. Mittwoch, Leo Motzkin, Ed. Oungre and Dr. J. Stern.

Dr. J. Blau was elected president of the Administrative Council and Dr. Oscar Cohn of the Executive Committee.