Sir A. Mond on the Return of the Jew Sir Alfred Mond, First Commissioner of Works, left London on January 6 for a tour of Palestine. In an interview with Reuter's representative, Sir Alfred said that he was anxious to see the country's possibilities, the progress that was being made, and to study the economic future.
"There is," he continued, "an immense amount of work to do. The housing shortage is worse than here, and the country has practically to be rebuilt from the begin ning. If plans are properly worked we could provide for three or four million people. Preparations have to be made for those Jews who want to go and, in fact, we have to make Palestine fit to be the home of the Jewish race. All kinds of Jews want to go to Palestine, chiefly those from Central Europe, Russia, Arabia, and Poland. So eager are many that failing other means of transport people are actually walking from the Ukraine and drifting through via Constantinoble. Great numbers of young men are going, and University men, doctors, and people of the sort are actually working on the roads which are being constructed to Lake Tiberias. The exodus from this country is comparatively small, Money is coming in from all the Dominions, and there is need to hold out inducements people to go: to Palestine. The difficulty is to restrain them until the land is more or less prepared for such a new population. There will be an enormous influx as soon as the country is ready. Palestine wants labour, as there is no surplus available. The revenue of Palestine is increasing.""
In reply to a question, Sir Alfred said that he did not anticipate religious difficulties. There was already a good deal of ce-operation in commercial matters between the Arabs and the Jews, and_ the population would improve with the advance of the country. All re sponsible Jewish leaders were anxious to secure Arab cooperation. It was very important for British interests to develop the country, and, as mandatory Power, to discharge her obligations to the "League of Nations. Palestine was a very important link with the Fast, both culturally and—coinmercial ly. Some day there would be a through route to Baghdad, and the port of Haifa would be one of the greatest harbours in the Mediterranean.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.