The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1941-02-07

can immigration laws grant asy-
lum to political or religious refu-
gees whose lives and liberty are
at stake. Other refugees entered
Mexico as tourists or were brought
over by their relatives.
According to the Central Com
mittee of Jews in Mexico City, the
Government has never prohibited
the immigration OF Jewish refu-
gees when these had the necessary
papers. A sole exception were the
SO refugees whose entrance into
Mexico from Lisbon had not been
previously arranged.
What would have been tragedy
became drama when an eighty
third refugee jumped off the ship
into Mexican waters and swan
ashore. The other 80 refugees en-
tered the United States by orders
of President Roosevelt. Dramatic
finale of the story is provided by
the eighty-third refugee, a Polish
Jew who comes from a very good
family. Now working in Mexico
City, he has adapted himself so
well to the environment that he
has almost forgotten how he en-
tered the country.
Recently, the Central Commit
tee, working in conjunction with
the Mexican immigration Depart
ment, completed arrangements
for the temporary residence in
Mexico of SO Jewish refugees. I'm
til the war is over they will be
allowed to live and work in any
part of Mexico except the capital.
The Government reserves the
right to prohibit working in the
capital so that this city will not
become OvercrOwded.
Jewish colonization of Mexican
land is living drama. There are
great stretches of land here ready
to be sold or rented Immigrant
farmers have found that land laws
are extremely lenient. The only
requirement is that the land rent
ed them must be occupied for a
period Of five years.
A new petition for the land
must be made every year. If the
land does not look as good as it
did in the beginning, permission
to change land must be obtained
from the Government. At the end
of five years the colOniStS are con-
Sidered MeXicanS.
Jewish farmers in Mexico are
either working in families or farm
ing in collective units. There are
a number OF Jewish farmers who
are working the land side by side
with Spanish refugees. With the
help OF the Government. Loyalist
refugees have been able to estab-
hSh land colonies in Mexico.
approximately fifteen Jewish
immigrant families are scattered
over the Republic. Their farms are
in the states of Veracruz and Hi
dalgO. Others are an hours and
two hours ride from Mexico CITY.
Fantastic as it sounds. one fam
lily in Hidalgo is even making
''pulque," Mexican intoxicating
drink. by extracting the juice from
-magueyeS" according to the ma
tive formula.
AS whole, immigrant farmers
have done so well in Mexico that
they now own their own land. Pro-
fesAonal people. mainly doctors.
are coming UP. too. About twenty
physicians. mostly Germans and
AuStriAns. are scattered over the
Republic Several were famous
doctors In Europe before thew
came to Mexico. This is in accord
ance with Article " Of the inlmi-
grafton laws, which states that ST.
perior professional people may OBJ
tain permission to enter Mexico
II Is known that a number of Pc
Ouons were made to the Govern
ment for the entrance Of refugee
doctors who were famous in En-
rope.