Our New York Letter

Jewish Transcript, August 22, 1924.

What has been an engaging problem to the authorities in the various embarkation ports, to government officials and to relief organizations – the problem of the stranded refugees who were granted visa to be admitted to America but were detained not of their own fault – found no expression, so far, in any official record of the State Department or even the Labor Department. The authorities upon whom the refugees have placed their trust and as a result of that trust have disposed of their property, left their homes and started journeying with the encouraging hope of finally reaching their opportunity in the land of opportunities, lost track of these originally hopeful emigrants in the moment of their despair. Commissioner General of Immigration Husband has made the statement of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that outside of newspaper reports, the immigration authorities of the United States have no official record as to the number of American visa holders classified as “stranded refugees.” Will the lack of record, however, solve the problem and remove the responsibility?

That the authorities who have issued these visas and encouraged the hopes of these refugees have to some extent a responsibility towards them is indicated by the fact that the State Department has issued instructions through the Consuls abroad to give preference in the issuing of new visas to those stranded refugees who hold previous visas. There is, however, very little salvation in this instruction of the State Department. The quotas according to the new law for the eastern European countries, from where the majority of the refugees come are, as known, very limited. Out of this meager quota only a half of each quota can be allotted for preference to the stranded refugees, in as much as the other half of these quotas are to be reserved for a certain class of near relatives of American citizens and agricultural laborers which has gained by preference by the provisions of the very same immigration law. Besides, according to the same law only 10% of the annual quota could be admitted monthly. Even those refugees who would prove to belong to the “preferred stock” would have to continue in their trying and exhausting position of anticipation. What is then to happen to these eleven thousand stranded immigrants toward whom a certain measure of responsibility has already been admitted?

Congress at its very last session, before adjourning, passed the resolution which will remain in the immigration annals as an act of human mercy, to admit those who have already embarked for the United States and would become victims of the new law when they would see land again. Will Congress take up and deliberate in the same spirit on the question of these stranded refugees when it convenes?

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General Plutarco Elias Calles, President-elect of Mexico, leader of the Mexican working classes, influenced by an organization which would correspond more to the tendencies of a labor party than to an extremely socialistic party, left a cheerful message during his stay in new York before his departure for Europe.

When he assumes the reins of the government in Mexico, he stated he would be prepared to ask his government to grant a large tract of arable land to Jewish settlers, with proper facilities and concessions. The Mexican solution of the Jewish immigration problem is not a new proposal. It has been taken up, discussed and even abandoned already two years ago. However, Mexico is the typical land of changes and the sudden arrival in power of what is termed to be a Mexican Labor Party may offer some new aspect to the problem. General Plutarco Elias Calles is not only interested in Jewish colonization work in Mexico, he has also a “good eye for business.” According to the interviewer of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Mexican President-elect stated that Mexico under a labor regime, where a system of cooperative guilds could provide employment for tens of thousands of Jews in various branches of industry offers a great possibility.

“It would be at the same time,” the President stated, “a distinct benefit to Mexico to manufacture within its own boundaries many articles and products which it is compelled today to import from other countries. A sum in the neighborhood of $2,000,000 could give a start to this movement and furnish employment possibilities for Jewish immigrants, a start which is similar to the beginning of the large Jewish industries in the United States.”

An invitation to Jewish industrial workers with an allowance for a possible drifting of a certain percentage into individual enterprises is a new and sensible proposition. It ought to be taken up and first of all thoroughly investigated. The nearness of Mexico to the large American Jewish community, with its possible connections and credit facilities, would no doubt present an incentive to the home-seeking class of Jewish workers and artisans in the devastated regions of at-present economic barrenness.

Here I think the work of the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith carried on in Mexico in recent years could offer good material for the forming of a sound judgment on the matter. Just recently this benevolent Order appropriated a sum of $20,000 for the purpose of establishing a branch office in Mexico City and the enlargement of the activities [there]. Those who have experience in that country will have to be consulted first.

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Hans Herzl, the little son of his great father, after a week’s search in the populous metropolitan city of London, came out from his hiding place. In a letter to the London Daily Telegraph he confirms the sad news which was reported about him.

“It is true that I was baptized into the Christian Church on July 20 in Vienna,” Hans writes.

But Hans is resentful. He denies the correctness of all the other particulars reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. What could be incorrect, since his principal incorrectness was unfortunately correctly reported?

It is incorrect that his action was a result of a mental depression? But was it ever recorded that anyone else under similar circumstances admitted his mental depression? You certainly would not expect Hans to admit that! Necessarily this must be left to the judgment of those who know more about it.

If you will search through the pages of the histories of all peoples, you will not find the names of great men’s sons being as brilliant as their fathers. We do not know anything of the sons Moses, Maimonides, Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, Luther, Spinoza, Copernicus or Newton. The majority of great men had no sons. Those who were born did not live up to their names. It seems as if nature takes a rest for a few generations after it has exerted itself at the heights of genius.

How painful it is, however, to recollect the [following] entry in Herzl’s diary: “June 10, 1904, was the 7th birthday of my Hans. I make a date out of the birthday of my good Hans. May he, healthy and happy, grow to be a strong Man and continue my work!”