Evening star., 1939-01-16
Jews Will Be Asked
For Largest Quota
For Palestine
National Conference
Hears Pleas for Speed
In Settlement Work

uu SSttISuISul VyVIN
American Jewry in 1899 will be
asked to subscribe the largest quota
for overseas needs they have ever
been called upon to give in order to
provide for distressed Jews of Eu-
rope and speed the rebuilding of
Palestine as the Jewish national
home.
This was decided yesterday at a
national conference for Palestine at
the Mayfower Hotel, Delegates from
all parts of the United States at
tended. In addition, the conference,
which was sponsored by the United
Palestine Appeal, called on Great
Britain for more liberal immigra-
ton policy in Palestine, which would
facilitate free and unrestricted ad-
mission of Jewish refugees"
This demand was made by reso-
4ution which said unrestricted ad-
mission of Jews to Palestine was
asked not only because of the obli-
cations freely and publicly" as
sumed by Great Britain under the
Balfour declaration and its mandate
for Palestine, but also because of
1.-The even stronger moral basis aris-
Ing out of the desperate emergency
concerning hundreds of thousands
Of helpless human beings" This
resolution also declared the refugee
problem cannot be solved without
giving a primary place to Palestine
which. it was declared, has the
physical resources, the social en-
vironment and the economic op-
portunities for the integration of
100000 German Jewish refugees in
Palestine in 1882"
Sense of Obligation.
Another resolution expressed 'the
deep sense of obligation" of Ameri-
can Jewry to President Roosevelt
and Secretary of State Cordell Hull
for their historic role in safeguard
ing the Jewish rights which underlie
the mandate under which Palestine
Is administered by Great Britain"
While no amount was specified
Tor American Jewry to subscribe,
1t was pointed out that because of
the ruthless policy" of the Nazi
government, victims of that policy
must be removed as quickly as
possible.
United States Solicitor General
Robert H. Jackson and Jan Masaryk
former Czecho-Slovak minister to
England. two of the conferences
main speakers, joined with numer-
Gus Jewish leaders in declaring that
Palestine offers a haven for op-
pressed Jews.
Silver Is Reelected.
At the close Of the afternoon
session, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver of
Cleveland was reelected national
chairman of the United Palestine
Appeal, and Prof. Albert Einstein,
who sent message to the confer
ence saying the achievements in
Palestine were a source of new
courage to Jews in distressed lands.
was named honorary chairman.
Mr.. Jackson, in his address, said
the plight of the Jews in the world
today is "a challenge to the Chris
tian conscience to make good the
promise of Jewish National Home
in Palestine"
The solicitor general declared it
Is the task of a liberal government
. ito provide sanctions that will en-
force our covenant to respect each
others rights, and to advance the
measures that will support the dig
nifty of man."
He praised the Jewish settlers in
Palestine, which now number 45O,-
600, and said there is room there
Tor more refugees than in any other
country Of the world. He said that
In Palestine Jews may escape op-
preston and renew an interrupted
culture and give to the world new
evidence of an historic mission"
Masaryk Pleads Cause.
Mr.. Jackson. admitting that racial
fll-will and intolerance exists in
America. said these were not Amer
lean. ANY man who in America
advocates oppression or disregard of
the rights of any minority is en-
titled to the same intelligence rating
as one who saws off the limb on
which he is sitting" he asserted.
Mr.. Masaryk, principal speaker at
q luncheon meeting yesterday, said
he was pleading the cause of re-
building the Jewish national home
In Palestine because millions of
Jews in Europe are engulfed in
sea Of hell and damnation."
Forced to see the dismemberment
OF his country by Nazi Germany, Mr..
Masaryk said, II can understand
their passionate craving for an
island of safety in that raging sea"
He compared the plight of the Jews
to that of the Czechs and warned
the oppressors of Jewish people that
they will not succeed in swalling up
the Jews any more than the 10000
900 Czechs.
. Other speakers included DR.. Silver.
Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, national chair
man of the Joint Distribution Com
mittee; Judge Rothenberg, who pre-
sided at the afternoon session; Rep
resentative Adolph j. SABBATH, DR..
Stephen S. Wise, chairman of the
Executive Committee of the United
Palestine Appeal, and Rabbi Solo
mon Goldman of Chicago, president
OF the Zionist Organization OF
. America.