Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 286

It was also necessary to take into consideration the position of the Jews in Yemen, Afghanistan and other countries where persecution has increased, and to forward as many certificates as possible to the refugees from these countries. (b) Demands of the Farmers' Federation. The period under review saw a greatly increased shortage of agricultural labourers and skilled workers for industry, and the Farmers' Federation applied to the Government for a number of certificates to be granted them for immigrants to be selected by them. The Agency made it clear to the Government that it considered that certificates should be approved only by the Palestine Offices, but it agreed that a representative of the Farmers' Federation should go to the main centres of emigration and there choose the necessary candidates for approval by the Palestine Offices. About 700 such certificates were granted in 1934 as an experiment. The Farmers' Federation representative selected the emigrants in company with a representative of the Palestine Office in the various countries. Our future policy will be decided in the light of this experiment. (c) Workers—Industrial Experts. The Immigration Department is in constant communication with the Manufacturers' Association with regard to the granting of certificates to industrial experts, about which the Association forwards proposals from time to time. About 1,000 certificates have been granted for skilled workers on the recommendation of the Manufacturers' Association. A Committee has been set up by the Immigration Department, composed of the Trade and Industry Department of the Manufacturers' Association, to implement an agreement made in this connection with the manufacturers in this country. The Palestine Offices select immigrants in accordance with this agreement. (d) Agreement with Agudath ' Israel. As is known, the Agudath Israel applied to Government for a number of certificates to be placed at its disposal, stating that the Jewish Agency discriminated against Jews who are not members of the Zionist Organisation. As a result of an agreement with the Central Council of the Agudah, instructions were given to the Palestine Offices to accept their members if suitable for immigration as regards training, etc. A number of immigrants belonging to the Agudath Israel in various countries were granted certificates as far as it was possible to do so, and it was agreed that the Immigration Department should consider at the beginning of each schedule period the number of certificates it would receive for members of the Agudah on the following conditions : (1) The Agudah to submit all the required information concerning the prospective immigrants, according to category and country. (2) The Immigration Dept. of the Agency to decide on the number of certificates to be granted by the Palestine Offices to members of the Agudah in accordance with the principle laid down for all immigrants (training, etc.). 286