Preliminary measures have been adopted by the German National Spiritual Assembly and projects have been initiated in Ṭihrán calculated to hasten the construction of the third and fourth Ma_sh_riqu’l-A_dh_kárs of the Bahá’í world in the heart of the European and Asiatic continents. Appeal to individual believers to reinforce to whatever extent possible the contributions of the Bahá’í national bodies called upon at this hour to unitedly lend an impetus to the unfoldment of the opening phase of the Ten Year Plan whose consummation will, God willing, insure the triumphant conclusion of the initial epoch in the evolution of the grand Design conceived by the Center of the Covenant for the systematic propagation of His Father’s Faith. Advise forward all contributions, whether individual or collective, to the Egyptian, British or United States National Assemblies which are primarily invested with responsibility for the eventual erection of the Bahá’í Houses of Worship in the north, the heart, and the south of the African continent. —Shoghi [Cablegram, December 7, 1953] HAND OF CAUSE APPOINTMENT Inform National Assemblies elevation of Jalál _Kh_ázeh to rank of Hand of Cause. —Shoghi [Cablegram, December 7, 1953] APPEAL FOR PIONEER SETTLEMENT The nine months which have elapsed since the launching of the spiritual world-encompassing Crusade have witnessed the entry of the Knights of Bahá’u’lláh in well-nigh four score and ten territories throughout the planet, representing virtually three-fourths of the total number of areas, exclusive of the Soviet zone of influence, destined to be opened in the course of the entire decade and swelling the roll of sovereign States and Dependencies enlisted under the banner of His Faith to two hundred and thirteen. All independent States and Principalities on the European continent, excluding Soviet Republics and satellites, have been opened. All territories in North, Central and South America, excluding Labrador, have been opened. All territories on the Asiatic continent outside of the Russian orbit have been opened, except Tibet and Bhutan. All islands in the Mediterranean, all islands in the North Sea have been opened, except Spitzbergen. All African sovereign States, Colonies, Protectorates and Trust territories, with the exception of Togolands, Spanish Guinea, Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Gambia and the French Cameroons, have been opened. All islands in the South and North Atlantic, except St. Helena, St. Thomas, Anticosti, and the Falklands, have been opened. All Indian Ocean islands with the exception of Socotra, the Cocos, Comoro, Mentawei, Nicobar, Chagos Archipelago and Kuria-Muria have been opened. All islands in the North and South Pacific, exclusive of Soviet-controlled territories, have been opened except Galapagos, Gilbert and Ellice, Admiralty, Loyalty, Marshall, Mariana, Brunei and Portuguese Timor.