The Maccabaean

Zıonısm has always received substantial support from the Jews of Canada. Most of the prominent Jews of that country have always been syınpathizers with the principles governing the Zionist movement. Consequently the direction of the movement in Canada, it appears, has been in capable hands, with the result that each year has seen a very large improvement in its financial contributions and membership. Recently the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada held its Twelfth Convention, and this convention proved to be by far the most successful that has yet been held. It is the policy of the Canadian Zionists to hold their annual conventions in different cities each year, so as to popularize the movement in every section of their extensive country. Two years ago their convention was held in Montreal; last year ıt was held in Toronto, and this year it was held, during the past month, in Ottawa, the political capital of the Dominion. It is intended to hold their convention next year in Winnipeg, the big growing city of the Canadian Northwest.

The convention held in Ottawa this month was one which was calculated to inspire courage and enthusiasm in the heart of every Zionist. At this convention fifty-three different Canadian Jewish communities were represented. Some of the delegates came from districts situated thousands of miles apart, Zionists from the Pacific Coast thinking nothing of a journey of three thousand miles to Ottawa and three thousand miles back again to their homes for the sake of assisting in the deliberations. Not only were the big growing cities of the Pacific Coast and of the Canadian Northwest represented, but equally well represented were the cities of the east and Atlantic Coast, such as Halifax, St. John, Quebec, Toronto, etc.; and the metropolis of Canada, Montreal, sent no less than two special cars full of delegates to represent it.

The Convention was presided over by

Mr. Clarence I de Sola, who has been at the head of the Zionist movement in Canada ever since its inception and who was re-elected to the presidency for the twelfth time.

The President, Mr. Clarence I de Sola, delivered his presidential address in which he reviewed extensively the progress of Zionism during the past year both in Canada and throughout the world generally. He made the statement that during the past year the Canadian Zioniss had increased their subscriptions to the various funds by one hundred and five per cent. Speaking of this very fine result Mr. de Sola said: “Well may we treat with scorn the fatuity of those who pretend to see any decline in the strength of Zionism, Our ever inzsreasing‘ income and membership is the best evidence of its steady growth and virility.” Continuing his address the President said that the ‘most important of their achievments during the past year was the founding of their special Land Fund for the purchase of land in Palestine. When he had suggested the establishment of this fund, at their previous convention in Toronto a year ago, there were some who had doubted the likelihood of success and feared they were attempting that which was beyond their strength.

He had now the great satisfaction of being able to announce that the amount received for this fund during the past year was in excess of their highest anticipations and that success was now practically assured.

Speaking of the preent political position in Turkey Mr. de Sola said that he believed that as constitutionalism progressed in the Ottoman Empire the condition of the Jews in every part of that empire would likewise progress, and he felt positive that the more Turkish statesmen become enlightened as to the principles and motives governing Zionism the more they will learn to recognize in it a movement that will give it a class of population that any enlightened government should he only too glad to welcome.