The Denver Jewish news., 1923-05-02

.thNt w bANt INV ~ l'''.' '' 80
experts together with fnll statement
II the Mexican terms and conditions.
Even if the Congress had not spontane-
,usly offered to take over the eNaminn-
lion of the scheme. European bodies
would have felt that this was Its
natural duty; that it alone was In a
geographical position to investigate
economically and expediiiously.
ON what grounds then has the Con-
gress neglected its plain duty? On the
grounds that large colonization
scheme would involve enormous sums
of money" and ..innumerable and i'm
measurable difficulties" and need ''the
support and collective cooperation of
the organized Jewries." Moreover. such
opportunities as the scheme might or
fer could not he immediate.
But these are the conditions attach
'ng to all colonization. They are known
% everybody. There was no need for
solemn pretence of consideration. On
hese grounds President Obreson's offer
might have been rejected as soon as it
was made. On these grounds every
other offer stands rejected before 1t is
made. Were Ircland-'lcpopulate by
mutual murdcr-evcr offered for Jew
'sh home. as was indeed the suggestion
If an eighteenth century English states
man. the offer would he waved wearily
aside. Were France 10 invite the Jews
o colonize its deserted regions. the offer
would he rcpudiatcd with resentment
II. as is more probable. Canada or Aus
ralia We're to propose setting aside a
tract. the Jewish Congress would whine
over the difficulties.
But all 1t had to do in the Mexican
natter was to lay accurate information
,efore the organized Jewries." 1t was
or these to decide whether to take up
he scheme or not If the geographical
ieport had been unfav6rnble. the thing
would have collapsed of itself. Had it
'aen favorable, it would still he open
o the .Iewries of the world to decide
whether by an heroic effort they could
urn the territory into land of refuge.
They would have had to consider the
,olitical prospect and limited receptive
npacity of Palestine. the ever-tishter
losing of the American door. the men
ICE in Eastern Europe. and the prOba-
,lity that sooner or later there would
,e II panic-stricken mass-emigratiOn for
which it was their duty to make provi-
lion. And. as we have already seen,
he ICAs cooperation would not have
,een improbable. Nay. it seems to have
been assured In advance, for according
% the aforesaid state documents. the
MOntefiore Society Of Rotterdam had al
'eady sent an. emissary to Mexico and
his emissary represented his society as
icting in cooperation with ICA, and
with the Jewish Union of Bucharest in
o the bargain. The organized .Iewries
icing thus ready TO cooperate, the re-
sress becomes more inexpilcable than
,ver. and the black fog now surround
ing the whole business Is not lightened
Iy the revelation in another of the doc
an Ministry of Agriculture. to the eff
ect that the American Jewish Congress
elegraphed that it would accept the
,ffer. provided it was made officially by
resident Obregon to the heads of the
organization The only fact that stands
,ut clearly is that without adequate
iuthOrizat tion another flaming vision of
rope was kindled before our suffering
masses and with equal frivolity extin-
,uished.
That colonial tiOn offers no immediate
opportunities for mass-immigration is,
# course, perfectly true: tho it would
,e less true If our people were more
argely agricultural. But remedy,
f it is to be sure, must be slow. And
" that we have pioneer farmers and
)ther hardy elements able and willing
o endure the first primitive labors. And
IN the basis of these rural activities,
lTDuu sOOi al isV ny way VI
complement and little towns begin to
spring up. AS for the money necessary,
such sums are neither to be had nor TO
be demanded from philanthropy. The
development of the earth's surface Is a
business upon which millions are ex-
pended daily all over the globe and few
territories can count on such sure
source of profit as lies in the steady and
ever-increasing influx of a Jewish labor
force. 1t is not even necessarily that
the Land Development company should
be Jewish. Already the land rejected
by the Jews in East Africa has adj
vanced considerably i'm value. and
American financiers might quite easily
be found who would supply the capital