JC Feb 1935
Colonel F. D. Samuel, D.8.OM the Treasurer of the Central British Fund for German Jewry, who has just returned from a three weeks visit to Palestine, is full of praise of what he has seen. But he is also candidly critical of a number of the features which characterise modern Palestine (writes a JEWISH CHRONICLE representative).
Colonel Samuel was in Palestine during the War, when he commanded one of the Battalions of the "Jewish Regiment." His present visit was partly to see in his capacity as Treasurer of the Central Fund for German Jewry how the arrangements for the German settlers were working. After speaking with praise of various colonies and settlement which he had visited where German refugees were to be found, and eulogising the splendid spirit of the colonists, Colonel Samuel said: "At Tel-Aviv, I was struck by the immense vitality of the place. The streets are lined with shops, and great crowds of people throng the pavements. It is sad that, there should be so much speculation in property at Tel Aviv whereby the price of land is driven up so much that rents become out of proportion to the cost of living. The speculator in land is the enemy of his people. The same can be said of Haifa which I remember as a beautiful place where most of the houses were in quiet streets and surrounded by gardens. Now, the only part of Haifa where this condition still continues is in the German Templar Colony. That part of Haifa near the Technion, which was known as ‘Beauty of Carmel' has been robbed of its beauty, and houses are going up cheek by jowl everywhere, blocking out each other's view. It will, indeed, be sad if slums are created owing to the overcrowding caused by high rents in Palestine. Palestine is becoming an industrial country, and I can only hope that town planning which is so much spoken of and which is being planned on paper, will actually be carried out on the ground.
The High Commissioner is doing a great work and takes the keenest interest in agriculture and industry. He keeps himself particularly well informed of all happenings and is served by most competent officials. Every one of those I met was keen on his job and seemed to me the best type of British Civil Servant. I think Palestine is fortunate in its government. One feels that all its members have the good of the whole country at heart.
" I hope that Palestine will not suffer from the ill which has been the curse of so many Jewish and non-Jewish communities—greed and self-interest. I feel that land speculation and the possible building up of a moneyed class who do not recognise their responsibilities, may lead to great evil. The worst danger to Jewish Palestine comes from within, and I like to feel that the fine spirit which is so noticeable in the colonies will be emulated In the cities.
"I cannot conclude without paying a tribute to the Zionists, and one must include the long line of philanthropists starting with Baron Edmond de Rothschild. But for the courage, the foresight and the steadfastness of the Zionists who bore the brunt of the heavy days during and following the War, it would not have been possible to make Palestine ready to receive the vast number of immigrant—not only German, but those from countries suffering perhaps more than tierman Jews who have flocked in and found homes and hope.
"The work of these pioneers, whose names are too numerous to mention, is being carried out to-day; and though I left Palestine with certain fears which I have indicated, I am full of hope that the wisdom of the' founders will prevail."

All Research by Lola Fraser