The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-19
JEWISH COLONIZING
IN SPAIN DISCUSSED
Oscar s. Straus Explains Why
Project Is Not Likely to
Succeed at Once.
UNJUST LAWS REMAIN

Oscar q. straus yesterday defined thu
exact nature and limitations Of the
project contemplating the rssettlsmsnt
Of Jews In Spain Mr.. Stratus. who IL al
avs keeniy Interested in any plan or
project touching upon the well being Of
Jews. understood that there had been a
GOOD deal OF transformation current, not
only as regards the character of tho
proposed resettlement. but az regards
Mr.. Strauss connection with the inter-
estins and much discussed movement.
He desired, therefore. to correct misap-
prehension.
1t has been given out IN various quar-.
tiers that Mr.. Straus was working ener.
getically with Louis Friedman Of this
city perfecting a plan by which mill
ions of Jews woul be able to sssh
refuge in Spain from countries dis
tressed by war, and that the attitude Of
tho Spanish Government was very pleas
ing to the promoters of the scheme.
A denial by the Spanish Ambassador
to tho United States. Senior Juan Rano,
that his Government had officially sane
toned III scheme or that any kind of
formal encouragement had been offered
led some persons interested to believe
that the plan was not 30 we'll forward
as might have been supposed from the
attitude of Mr.. Friedman. Mr.. Strauss
statement yesterday tended TO confirm
the notion that the project Ia probably
impossible of execution.
Mr.. strauss Statement.
"For some years past" said Mr..
Straus at his home. 5 West Seventy
sixth street, there has been ak among
men OF more or less prominence in re-
gard to the resettlcment of European
Jews In Spain. The spirit OF liberation
In Spain has grown and developed within
the last twenty years. That has been
attained because OF a more liberal form
of government and the natural growth
OF the parliamentary spirit following
the establishment Of the short lived re-
public in 1879.
Some OF the statesmen and pubiicists
of Spain finally recognized the fact that
the decline of Spain was due to the in
tolerant spirit which eliminated under
Ferdinand and Isabella In the expulsion
OF the Jews and other non-Catholic peo-
pies. Some of the leading men Of Spain.
including the late Senior CASTELAR,. ad-
vocated the remittance OF the Jews. esre-
cially the descendants OF the Jews who
were driven out OF Spain by the InQuisi-
ton. Many OF these still reside In the
Ottoman Empire. These descendants
/ have kept alive. as their principal
language. tho Spanish tongue There
are also many thousands Of such de-
%scendants OF Spanish refugees living In
Morocco.
For the last hundred years or more
the diplomatic representatives Of Spain
In the ottoman Empire have claimed
to exercise n kind of protectorate over
these descendants OF the Spanish refu-
sentative at Constantinople has en-
couraged the return to Spain OF these
Ottoman Jews OF Spanish extraction.
while. as above stated. the spirit OF
Spanish Institutions IL much more toll
Grant. nevertheless the old laws that
vexed the Jews OF old Spain. the laws
that worked for Injustice. confiscation
and Punishment, still remain upon tho
statute books. As long as they so re-
main they could be applied.
Purpose In View.
9TH purpose OF such Spanish states
| HAfll 40 u ti q VI
Jews in Spain was to rehabilitate their
country commercially and financially.
They formed the belief that the return
of the Jews would stimulate
and industry along modern lines. that
Spain would benefit richly. This had
been the experience of other countries
which readmltted the Jews.
1T Is not believed by those who have
looked into the matter that 1t would
| ha aINisah1a a4 vet fnr thu ynug IN
look upon Spain as "A desirable place
for colonization. While the civil Gov
ernment, without doubt, would regard
such colonization with favor, the clerl-
calls, who ave a dominating influence,
while not distinctly opposed to the prof.
ect are moi sympathetic.
This project was never intended IA
apply to any Jew save the descendants
OF the Jews evicted from Spain during
the period OF the Inquisition, the Jews
known az the Sephardim. or Spanish
Jews and especially to that section OF
them whose descendants still speak the
Spanish language and who reside In
Turkey, Morocco and other portions OF
the Far East"
Mr.. Straus was particular TO say that
the project had never contemplated the
transplanting Of Jews from this country
10 Spain. His general view Of the prof.
ect wal that 1t In an idea OF noble
proportions but n that must be held
in allegiance perhaps for years to come
The project Is about two years old,
rather the publicity OF the idea Is about
two years old. Spain was sounded In
1918 as 10 her attitude on a possible
resettlement OF Jews, and the Govern
ment returned an indecisive answer "a
the persons interested. Several months
ago Max Nordau, author, philosopher
and critic. was suggested as interme-
diary and spokesman for the Jews In
diplomatic dealings with the Spanish
Government. Nothing came of the sug-
~gest!on. Recently in letters to Mr., Fried
man. oscar s. Straus discussed the pos
sibilitles and defects OF tho project.