ZIONIST MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16933, 7 September 1920, Page 4

ZIONIST MOVEMENT.

_ 6 — MR I, COHEN'S MISSION. j Mr Israel Cohen, of the Zionist or-, ganisation, London, who is making a 1 world tour for the purpose of raising funds for the colonisation of Palestine by the downtrodden Jews from llussia, Poland, and other parts of the world, will arrive in Christchurch this morning from Wellington. Mr Cohen was successful in raising £30,000 for the j cause in Australia, also large sums in Auckland and Wellington. It has not I vet .been decided whether Mr Cohen will deliver a public address in Christchurch, as -was done in the northern cities, but he will .meet the local Jewish community in tho Synagogue schoolroom to-night. (PRESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON,, vSeptember 6. Mr Israel Cohen, 8.A., who is visiting New Zealand on behalf of the Zionist movement, explained its aims to a large public meeting last night at which tho Mayor presided, and Sir Robert Stout and tho Prime Minister were present. Sir Robert Stout, whilo -.applauding tho desire of the Jews to reoccupy Palestine, doubted whether many would go from a land like Now Zealand.. Mr Massey agreed with this, and alluded to the Jews -who had been prominent in politics, iike Benjamin Disraeli and Sir Julius Vogel. Both he and Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., dwelt on the fulfilment of the Scriptural .prophecy by recent events. Mr Cohen said that Great Britain had recognised the moral and historic right of the Jews to Palestine and in- ! tended to help them to return. Mr Arthur Balfour's declaration had como as a message of hope ,to the Jews. To fill Palcstino was also to Britain's interest. The country should be developed; at present tiiere was a difficulty in that there were half a million Arabs, and only eighty thousand Jews. Tho former protested against Jewish rule, but in fact it would be British rule. • The Zionist organisation hoped in twelve montlis to put thirty thousand settlers on tho Land, and sixty thousand in the next twelve, months. This would only be possible if the financial resources were available. A serious reason for pressing on the work was tho terrible sufferings of the Jews in Central Europe to-day. Mr Cohen, who was given a vote of thanks, informed the audience that he had already in a day or two raised- £5000 in Wellington.