Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 16

in June, 1935, at Göteborg to take steps to form a Scandinavian Federation. The Zionist Federation of Belgium, whose headquarters are in Antwerp, is developing in a very gratifying manner. In France, after a long interval, a beginning has been made with the creation of a Federation thanks to the initiative of some leading Zionists. In June, 1935, its constituent Conference was held in Paris. In Eastern France, the Federation, whose office is in Strasbourg, is developing in a very satisfactory manner and taken an active part in all Zionist affairs. In Bulgaria, Danzig, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary, things have developed at a normal rate. Palestine forms a chapter by itself. The peculiar conditions of the country have hitherto stood in the way of the conversion of the Organisation of the United General Zionists into a normal Federation. Resides this organisation, which has a marked political character, there are other groups of General Zionists, viz. : " Kidmah " and "' Mitkadmim," who have organised themselves separately on the basis of their divergent programmes. The uniting of Zionists in Palestine in an organisation is a problem whose solution becomes ever more urgent. In Tunis, Morocco and other countries of North Africa a revival of propaganda and a proper development of the Federations are desirable. In the countries of South and Central America, viz. : Argentine, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, the Federations have made progress despite the unfavourable economic conditions. A suspension of the party conflicts prevailing there would release a considerable amount of useful energy in these countries, which are becoming more and more important owing to increasing immigration. Communication with the former Federation in Siberia, which has its office in Harbin, has been interrupted in consequence of the political change. Australia, owing to the great distances between the Jewish communities in that continent, represents a problem that is very difficult to solve. The visit of the Keren Hayesod delegate, Dr. B. Shein, has contributed to strengthening the relations with the movement as a whole. It must unfortunately be stated that owing to official persecution no regular Zionist activity could be carried on in Iraq, Persia, Rtissia and Turkey. Zionist activity has also been exposed to special difficulties in those countries in which the previous liberty of movement has been restricted in consequence of the introduction of new legislation. In the following countries there are no regular Federations but only loose societies and groups : Spain (Madrid and Barcelona); Portugal (Lisbon); Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria); Algeria, Cuba (Havana); Peru (Lima); Colombia (St. Marta, Bogota); Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington); Straits Settlements (Singapore); Japan (Kobe); 16