Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1937-08-01 · 8.1937 · p. Seite 33

— 33 — 3. Finally the economic situation in Palestine deteriorated with the beginning of the war between Italy and Abessynia and as a result the demands of the Palestine importers sank. Although the capacity of the market has risen again since the end of the riots, it has not yet reached its previous height, as, owing to the uncertainty of the political situation, importers are hesitating to fill their storerooms with goods. On the other hand the desire of the German Jews to emigrate has become still stronger since the last Congress. This obliges the Haavara to do its utmost, in spite of the obstacles thrown into its way, to reach as large a volume of transfer as ever possible. (d) Under these circumstances it should specially be mentioned that the Haavara succeeded not only to retain the previous extent of its activities ,but even to widen their scope and thereby to increase the possibilities for the immigration of German Jews into Palestine and for investment of their capital in the country. The development in transfer of Haavara funds since its establishment in October, 1933, until April, 1937, is shown as follows : Year Reichsmarks LP. Mils 1933 (from October) 1,254,955.— 96,535.— 1934 ........ 9,795,038.— 723,786.908 1935 ........ 17,103,153.— 1,211,470.381 1936 ........ 19,958,645.— 1,174,316.827 1937 (until March) 7,909,881.— 402,617.— Total 56,021,672.— 3,608,726.116 Since the beginning of 1935, the previous system of payments into Haavara accounts of all those wishing to enter Palestine has been abolished. This regulation was enacted in order to prevent the accumulation of large sums in marks in Haavara accounts. Generally speaking, an opportunity is now afforded of paying the money info Haavara accounts only when there is some near possibility of transferring such funds to Palestine. In place of such payments into Haavara accounts, a system of advance registration has been substituted whereby the precedence of payments and disbursements are assured. The amount of such registered payments amounted on April 1st, 1937, to about 90,000,000 marks, of which the largest part was money required to qualify for immigration permits.