World Jewish Congress Rejects Schacht “ranson Plan,” Ethiopian Project

The World Jewish Congress Administrative Committee, concluding a three-day secret session, today went on record in opposition to the Schacht “ransom plan” of Jewish emigration from Germany and Jewish colonization in Ethiopia.

A resolution adopted by the 40 delegates from various European countries said: “A solution of the German Jewish problem is not acceptable to the Jewish people if it rewards the Nazi regime with economic advantage in return for expropriation and expulsion. Similarly, the World Jewish Congress firmly rejects any proposal regarding Ethiopia because Jewish settlement in the territory of an anti-Semitic government such as Italy is inconceivable.”

Other resolutions recommended that:

(1) The World Jewish Congress, together with other Jewish organizations, convene a world conference on Jewish emigration with a view to creating a central organization empowered to negotiate with governments, on behalf of Jewry, on emigration problems;

(2) The Intergovernmental Refugee Bureau establish contact with contact with central Jewish organizations for consultation of emigration from Germany;

(3) The Jewish people refuse to cooperate with governments such as Poland and Rumania in organizing Jewish emigration as long as these countries do not recognize equality of Jewish rights.

(4) The World Jewish Congress combat policies of Central and East European governments aiming at impoverishment of Jews to force their emigration, and conduct a fight until Jews’ equality of rights is restored.

Commenting on the resolutions at a press conference tonight, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the administrative committee, appealed to the world to protest against the “appalling situation of the Jews” in Central and Eastern Europe, where, he said “all human, legal and international obligations regarding the Jews have been disregarded.” He attacked the League of Nations as indifferent to the fate of the Jews in Danzig, which is under League supervision. He demanded that the League recall its High Commissioner from the Free City in protest against anti-Jewish measures.

The Rev. Maurice L. Perlweig, a delegate from Great Britain, paid tribute to Pope Pius for his opposition to persecution, declaring: “The Jewish people salutes the supreme Pontiff as the living symbol of the spiritual forces fighting to reestablish the rule of moral law in human society.”