and of Palestine.e It seems particularly certain that the Great Powers will henceforth exercise a certain control over Turkey, a circumstance that will tempt European capital to concern itself in greater measure with the economic potentialities of Turkey than it has done in the past. Even now, before peace has been formally concluded, representatives of large companies are here on the spot to make preliminary arrangements for the purchase of land in Palestine.e I am sure no lengthy arguments are necessary to convince you how important it is that we be not out- rivaled by European capital, and that we do not permit the best tracts of land to slip out of our reach. Just at this moment, large and excellent tracts of land are in the market. We have long been negotiating for them, but have been unable to consummate the purchase because of lack of the needed funds, which run into several million francs, If your sixteenth convention in Cincinnati can succeed in arousing recognition of the imperativeness of these land purchases, and in inducing our wealthy fellow American Jews to furnish the means, it will have accomplished something of the utmost value. We beg to remark that the purchase of land in Palestine is to be considered not only an absolutely safe investment but a very profitable one as well. In nearby Egypt, under English government, the price of land has risen by five and tenfold in a brief time. And if European influence is to predominate in Turkey in the future, similar developments there are most probable,
We have noted with especial pleasure that through the initiative of Mr. Simon Goldman of St. Louuis, a Chicago Hoachooza has been formed and, following the example of the first Hoachooza in St. Louis,
has purchased land in Palestine; we have noted with pleasure also that other Hoachoozas are in process of formation in New York, Winnepeg and Los Angeles. We see in the evolution of the Hoachooza idea the best means of binding American Jews to Palestine and of paving the way for their later settlement there. The tourist season this year has proved to our satisfaction that the number of American Jews who visit Palestine is undoubtedly increasing year by year. We hope that these scouts will take back with them lasting impressions of Palestine, and will spread broadcast in America the news that a new life is growing up all about us here.
We hope that your sixteenth convention will also remember our Yemenite brethren, of whom last year more than one thousand emigrated to our colonies. There are many more thousands of them now exposed to persecution and oppression, who would gladly escape from the Yemen and go to Palestine if we had the means to cover the expense of the journey and to help them to establish themselves once they had arrived, by building for them little houses to shelter them. We can do much to further our colonizing work here with comparatively small means. Will you not help to increase the fund which the Jewish National Fund has established for the purpose of building houses for the Yemenites? And will you not, in addition, create a special fund so that they may be provided with medical aid and be otherwise cared for until they become established here?
With this expectation we send Palestinian greetings to your convention, and wish your deliberations much success.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) DR. A. RUPPIN.