The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JUNE 29th, 1925. ZIONISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, JUNE 29th, 1925. ZIONISM.

Tub San Remo Conference of 1920 confirmed the famous Balfour Declaration, and rendered possible the fulfilment of a dream long cherished by the Jews. It conferred the mandate over Palestine upon Britain, yvho had previously declared herself in favour of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jeivish people. But il the Zionist movement was to progress money yvas needed, and in 1920 Mr Israel Cohen was despatched on a mission to India, Australasia, and the Far East. His purpose was twofold. He was to explain the import of the Balfour Declaration to the Jewish communities in these regions. .He was also to raise funds. If is experiences are described in “The .Journa.l of a Jewish Traveller.” His book makes us realise the übiquity of this remarkable race. In Europe.- of c.,urse. they are every > here, with the reputed exec tion of the City of erdeen. But ;!:cv have gene farther alield. There are llom-h-hmg Jcv.i-iii Colonies in C hiua, Munchurfa. Japan, the Philippines an 1 the East Indies. The author had an cx-ellent reception in Australia. Sydney possesses the eldest, the largest, and also the most “English” Jewish community in the C< niinoiiyven.lth. Because of its Anglicisation, yve gather, its response to Mr Cohen’s appeal fell short of his expectations. He notes that among British peoples there exists none of that antiSemitic bins which in most countries closes the door of public advancement to Jews. In Britain and in Australia many high offices in the State are filled by Jews. Perhaps the most interesting chapters deal yvitli conditions in Palestine. Mr Cohen returned there nine months after his departure on liis mission, and he was surprised at all that had been accomplished in the interval. The Jewish University, the foundation-stone of yvhich had been laid in 1918. still existed only on pnp?r —it has since been completed, and yvas opened by Earl Balfour the other day. But in other directions noteworthy progress had been made. Jews are coming to Palestine from various parts of the yvorld, hut the authorities, prudently, accept no more than the country can absorb, and take only* tho=e yvho are likely to succeed in their neyv environment. Excellent yvnrk is being done by the “Haluzim” or pioneers, groups of young immigrants (male and female), who build roads and railways,, reclaim yvaste land, and cultivate the soil. Many of these are ex-students from Poland and Galicia, intelligent, keen, and enthusiastic. It in no way detracts from their devotion to point out that their return to Palesfine was in a measure enforced. Anti- I

Semitic feeling is strong in Central Europe just now. The Jews are liarrassed, and the universities have refused to allow Jewish students to complete their courses.