The Denver Jewish news., 1922-07-26
BY ISRAEL ZANGWUL

II is Interesting To note now the
pressure of life overcome> fixed ideas
and even fixed ilealiSm>. Thus. we
see in France the fixed IDEA that the
| Versailles Treaty is as law of the
Medes and PerSianS gradually giving
| place to the feeling that after all ii
will have to he modified. Similarly.
| the pressure of life-or should one
rather say of death ?-iS dies rowing the
! fixed idea of the Jewish people. that
| from Zion will come forth not only
| the law but salvation for all Israel.
| The unprecedented masSncreS in the
| Ukraine and other disturbed regions
of Europe. the panic-Stricken flight of
myriads of exiles, and The recent re-
| striction of immigration into the
United States have confined to bring
home of Jcwry even amid all the
clamor of rebuilding Zion. that Zion
ism can provide no haven for more
than tithe of our refugees. although
il may raise the political status of the
Jewish people.
The absolute political necessity of
creating II Jewish land of refuge was
for many years proclaimed by the
Jewish Territorial Organization, nI
which | had the honor to he president
III is not. however, through adhesion
to this organization or through any
communication with or from me, bu.
through the sheer pressure of practical
necessity, that the American Jewish
philanthropist Mr. Paul W. ItOthen-
berg, seems to have been driven to-
conduct negotiations with the Mexi-
| can authorities with view ro the
establishment in Mexico of n great
area for the reception of Jewish Inn
migration. Mexico was not. of course.
any more than any other undeveloped
| part of the world. overlooked by the
Jewish Territorial organization in its
quest for land capable of receiving
millions of immigrants. \ member of
the Council. the late Mr.. Joseph Fcls.
famous as II practical disciple of Henry
George. WAS empowered to take up the
question with the late President Diaz.
Diaz received him very amicnbly hut
was unwilling to scquestrate Il spc-
cific territory for Jews on the ground
that what Mexico needed was not
more agriculture hut more Industries.
Let the Jews therefore come into Mex
leo. develop its manufactures and pro-
mote its commerce. This suggestion
L,; hn, onnpgnI N thp frln-
ciples of Territoralism had to be ne
gativcd Ny organization never con
sentcd to alter its principles for the
sake of IL SNOWY process of Il different
kind. The Talmud speaks wittily oi
peopIe who first shoot their arrow and
then fix the target There are organi-
cations. which having shot their ar
row. re-fix the target
The reason the Jewish Territorial
Organization adherc8 50 intleNibly to
its program was that it was convinced
its principles contain the only radical
solution of the Jewish problem. These
principles were tcrsnly embodied once
and for all in the formula TO acquire
for those Jews who are unable or un-
willing to remain in their present
lands
1t will he seen at oncc that the
offer alleged to have been obtained
by Mr.. Rothenberg of GiOO0 square
miles along the American Mexican hor-
der for the reception of Jewish i'm
migration approaches the formula of
the Jewish Territorial Organization
much more nearly than did the cor
! ccption of President DiaZ President
Obrcgon's original concessions to col
onists issued by him in April 1921
contains no special induccmcnt T."
| Jewish immigrants. whom it does not
/ even mention For the general immi-
| grant for the individual Jew better
conditions can he had from Brazil or
! the Argentine aS they can continue.
| believe. to he had from Canada Wher"
grants of 100 acres per man ar" stu
available. Mexico we may assume IN
competition with 50 many other lands
of the future. rcapCd no very cncour-
aging results from its prcSidrn : pre-
nnu.ccmcntS. and II is probable that
! the new invitation specifically hu-
dressed to Jews is n sequel to the
. failurn of the general invitation. THIS
need for immiGrantS-a need which
under Lord Northclffc's reminder is