Evening star., 1938-11-21
Roosevelt Is Urged
To Help Jews Get
To Palestine
Appeal Asks President
To Seek British Aid
In Proposal

SSS" 0ssAuSus SNsS
In Proposal
President Roosevelt today had be-
fore him a plea from leaders of
American Jews that he intercede
with Great Britain to open the
gates of Palestine for tens Of thou
sands of the Jews of Germany"
At the same time the President
was petitioned to inform the Brit
ish government that American citi-
zens of the Jewish faith through
the United Palestine Appeal are
prepared to pledge their unprece-
dented cooperation in large-scale
settlement scheme"
The plea was made by 800 Jewish
leaders from 65 Atlantic seaboard
cities, who were called to a meeting
at the Hamilton Hotel yesterday by
the Palestine Appeal.
The leaders backed their pledge
of cooperation by calling on Jew
ish communities to mobilize their
resources to finance the enlargement
of the Palestine colony.
Benefit for All.
The President was informed that
American Jews would put forth
every effort to see that the new refu-
gees will be absorbed into the eco
nomic system of Palestine with gen.
eral benefit not only to the Jewish
population, but to all inhabitants
of the land"
The group heard an appeal from
Rabbi Edward L. Israel Of Balti-
more, vice chairman of the Pales-
tine Appeal, for American Jewry to
impose on itself voluntary fine
of $l00,O00000 to be used in aiding
Jewish refugees from oppression.
Rabbi Israel said this would be
a small fine for the $500 900 Amer
ican Jews compared to the $500 ,O0O,- =
900 penalty imposed by the German
government on the 100000 Jews in
the Reich for the killing of a minor
German diplomat by young Polish
Jew.
with 100000 900 there would be
opened such vast sources of settle
ment in Palestine that the bulk, II
not all, of the German Jews in ex-
cess of the immigration quotas pre-
vailing in various countries might
easily be absorbed in the Jewish
homeland" the rabbi said.
Joint Action Urged.
Senator King, Democrat. of Utah.
addressing the meeting. urged Great
Britain and the United States to
undertake joint action to promote
mass settlement of Jewish refugees
in Palestine. He described visit
there some years ago and said the
courage and idealism of Jewish
settlers had established "a fine
progressive democratic state" capable
of absorbing a million Jews.
Great Britain announced recently
1t would continue to permit re-
stricted Jewish immigration to Pal
estine. Arab leaders in the Holy
Land demanded that the immigra-
ton be stopped.
Under present restrictions. how
ever, only a handful of Jewish refu-
gees from Germany could find a
haven in Palestine. The quota for
all immigration to that country In
the next six months has been fixed
at 4,870.
The Jewish leaders here discussed
the possible places of refuge that
have been advanced, Informally or
otherwise, since Germany's latest
measures against the Jews began.
Believed Logical Plan.
The general view expressed was
that Palestine was the logical place
for Jewish settlement, not only be-
cause of the historical connections
between the Jewish people. but be-
cause. from the economic point Of
view, Palestine offered greater pos
sibilities for immediate coloniza-
ton.
Henry Monitor, . executive director
of the United Palestine Appeal. said
q survey of Madagascar, one of the
places proposed, had disclosed that
no population used to living in the
Temperate Zone could possibly exist
in that area except on a high plateau
where facilities for settlement were
restricted.
He said the climate of British
Guiana was likewise unsuitable and.
moreover, it had been estimated
that a minimum of $10O 900 900 would
be required to prepare the ground
for colonization there.
It was disclosed, meanwhile, that
in discussion among Jewish leaders
former President Hoover had been
mentioned as a possible director of
refugee resettlement. His name has
been advanced, it was said, because
of his extensive previous experience
in relief work abroad.
Usually well informed persons here
expressed the opinion. however, that
there was slight chance of the
former President being selected by
this Government to assume leader
ship of the activity now proposed.
Myron C. Taylor, former head of
the United States Steel Corp, Is
scheduled to sail late this week for
London to confer with other men,
bers of the intergovernmental COM
mittee set up there to deal with
political refugees.
Jewish leaders here discounted re-
ports Justice Louis D. Brandeis
might resign from the Supreme
Court to take permanent leadership
of resettlement activities.