The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-24
ROOM FOR SIX MILLION PEOPLE
 IN PALESTINE
Land Is Capable of Support ing That Number More
 Than Now Live There

The recent statement by Viscount James Bryce that Palestine cannot ac- commodate more than 300,000 Jewish colonists, is strongly controverted by the figures offered by Carl Ballod, of the University of Berlin, the leading German economist In a lecture de- -livered in Vienna recently under the auspices of Palestine" (The German Committee for the Promotion of the Jewish Palestine Settlement) Prof. Ba1old said:
 "It is quite possible for Palestine to find room for five to six millions who may seek to return to agricul- ture in that country Taking into consideration only the fertile valleys and lowlands, we find an area of 10000 0to 800,O0O hectares G,729,- TOO to 1,976,800 acres) will suffice to produce the food of six millions of people, reekoned in meat and corn. This would still leave the highlands available for orchards and similar ag- riculturaI development. 44,000 hec- tares a hectare is equivalent to g. All acres) are already in Jewish pos session, not including hundreds of or chards.
 "Of the fertile regions of Palestine, the first and foremost is the great plain of Jesreel, with an area of 5O,- 900 hectares; 2O,O0O on the coast of Galilee, 15,0OO on the great plain bor- dering on Hule Lake. The Valley of the Jordan will offer 1900 hectares after the necessary dams and canals have been constructed. This country will be particularly suitable for rice, sugar, coffe eand cocoa cultivation.
 Artificial irrigation will render available the coastal plain from Gaza to Carmel, comprising 250,00 hec- tares. The Audja river, pouring into the Mediterranean north of Jaca, has flow of 10 cubic metres per second, sufficient for the irrigation of 66,OO0 hectares, at an elevation of l 500 milimetres, sufficient for the dry culture of cotton and soya beans. More over, the rainfall in Palestine averages with that of the agricultural regions of Europe, in fact it's distribution is even more favorable. The noun tains of Palestine are covered with 'nari-crust,' affording a serviceable soil for plantation. Olive trees, vines, almond and fig trees have thriv en here without artificial irrigation, from time immemorial.
 "On the whole, we may estimate Palestine. employing minimum figures as follows: 30O.000 hectares of fertile lowlands, which by means of artifi- cial irrigation can be made to yield double annual harvest; 600, 900 hectares of level or slightly flowing suitable for agriculture; 100000 hec- tares in the Hauran, capable of one annual harvest, and at least one mil lion hectares of hill and mountain country, covered with nari-crust. There remain, therefore, only 700, 900 hectares Of non-productive soil, or 25 per cent of the entire area of Pales- tine.
 "The question of requirement of the land" continued Prof. Ballod, fought to present no insuperable diff ficulties. Most of the land is already owned by great Arab landowners, waiting for their drive, and the Eel lahin would willingly leave for North Syria or Babylon if they were offered better conditions through the civiliz- ing influences that are reviving these countries"
 In explanation of the motives of Pro-Palestine," Prof Ballod said
 we have organized because, we, of whom the majority are non-Jews, take a special interest in Zionist aims It is a movement which must be judged both by it's ideal and it's practical as pect. In this connection Zionism can be compared only to the move ment of the Puritans and Quakers who went to America in the 17th cen tury and who have left as their heir Ioom the whole ethical groundwork of modern America, and who also in itiated a great economical develop ment."