The Denver Jewish news., 1923-12-13
The Whole Truth About
Palestine
DIR. Arthur Rsippin, Colonization Ex
pert, Tells Of Conditions As They
Are, What Has Been Accom-
plished BY Jewish Immi-
grants, And What Is
Needed


National Council OF the Keren Hayesod
(Palestine Foundation Fund.- today
that the Jews of the world have eX-
pended about $50 600 900 in Palestine
since the British occupation, and the
continuation of the great work of re-
first upon creating a self-supporting
peasantry, consisting of independent
small cultivators and groups of agricul-
| tural settlers on cooperative basis,
and second, upon the development of
handicrafts and industry which will
meet the needs of the agricultural pop
ulation. If these things can be accom-
pIishetl. he said. immigration will take
care of itself. Already, due to the ef
fects Of the Keren Hayesod, Palestine
| is entering upon new constructive
phase OF activity.
The noted expert, who is in charge
of the Palestine colonization work of
the Zionist Organization and Keren
HayesOd. declared that the expenditure
of SI.OOO,OOO annually would settle ap-
proximately 6,OOO Jewish families a
year, these families to comprise five
persons on an average. To show the
zeal with which the Chaluzim. or pio-
neers. are meeting the situation. he :old
of students and formers doctors with
European university education who
may be seen breaking stones on the
roadside near Jaffa.
The National Council of the Keren
Hayesod is newly created body Of
the American organization and is com
posed of delegates from all over the
United States. At this its first meet.
ing. held in. the Hotel AstOr. a new
Bonrd OF Directors was elected. reports
were received and routine business was
transacted. An attentive listener was
DR.. Chain Weizmann, President of the
World Zionist Organization. who came
from London on the same ship which
brought DIR. Ruppin. The address was
considered of unusual moment as DIR.
Ruppin brought first hand informa lion
concerning matters of vital Importance
to the Jews OF America
''Since the British occupation over
$1,000 Jewish immigrants have entered
the country" said DIR. Ruppin after he
berg, Chairman of the Board of the
American keran Hayes0d. "Of these
about 5000 have left, SO about 10000
have been added to the permanent pop
nlation of Palestine during the last
three years-nnd immigration continu-
ing at present at the rate of 500 n
month. The Jewish population of Pal
cstine is today placed NJ about 1000.
which represents an increase of 30 per
cent in n little over three years. More
than two-thirds of the Jews now there
are genuinely productive. Those living
in the colonies, who depend chiefly on
, agriculture. number well about 10000
and constitute about one-fifth of the
total Jewish population. This com
pares favorably with the percentage
engaged in agriculture in many West.
ern Countries
In asserting that the immigra ion
problem would be solved with the crea-
ton of II self-supportins Jewish peas.
antry along with the development Of
handicrafts and industry, DR. Ruppin
said that when this is accomplished
the restrictions on Jewish immigra,
ton into the. country by the Admins
tration of Palestine will vanish into
thin air once we are able to demon
sIrate our ability and willingness to
provide employment for all comerS in
agriculture and industry He added
that an essential condition for our
work is the establishment of harmon
ious relations with onr Arab neigh
bcrs.' and explained that there is no
surcr way of winning the confidence of
ihe Arab masses than by the steady
influx of Jewish capital and the growth
of productive enterprise" The Kcren
Hnycsod. he said. must take the lead
in financing, in education and in sani.
taton.
In telling of the enormous SIMS ex-
pended by the Jews in Palestine. DIR
Ruppin explained that the O.OO0. 900
| ih'iu''tu an jewish money, pTlNHtt III
vestmentS and Zionist funds. Well
over s5,OO0,000 has been spent by the
kcren Hayesod alone during the last
two and n half years. he said The
chief agency in Palestine reconstruc-
ticn today is the Kcrcn Haycsod. With
Baron Edmond de Rothschild of Paris
a close second
He placed the current rate of immi-
grafton ut from 5000 to 10000 wear
and declared this to be far too low.
I'VE ought to bring 10000 immigrsnts
into the country each year" he said,