Italy Speeds ‘liquidation’ of Foreign Jews

The task of “liquidating” Italy’s foreign Jews is progressing rapidly and in a manner which apparently is deemed “satisfactory” by the Italian Government.

Of the approximately 3,000 foreign Jews still in Italy, more than 1,000 already have either been interned in concentration camps or centered in several small villages in southern Italy. Although the number of women being rounded up is increasing steadily, those interned thus far are for the most part men between the ages of 18 and 50.

In contrast to previous methods of rounding up, in early morning raids, those to be interned, arrests are now being effected in a most inconspicuous manner. Each week additional groups of foreign Jews are selected and ordered, often by postcard, to report within two days to the concentration camp to which they have been assigned or to the authorities of the village where they are to be detained.

It is significant that baptized Jews apparently have been earmarked for earlier internment. The Italian Government has from the beginning shown marked disfavor toward Jews who attempted to escape the “lot of their caste” by baptism.

It is reliably reported that as soon as sufficient accommodations in concentration camps have been completed, with very few exceptions, all foreign Jews, including men, women and children, will be interned.

Provisorily, four camps are being used–two in small villages near Salerno, one near Cosenza and the fourth, for women, at Chieti. The largest number have been sent to the camp near Cosenza, where it is believed all will shortly be transferred.

Treatment accorded the interned refugees, although generally moderate, varies in the different camps, with some permitting more liberties than others. The six-and-a-half lire allotted daily for food is sufficient under the circumstances. In fact, it is more than most of the refugees have ever had at their daily disposal during their sojourn as free refugees in Italy. An additional 50 lire monthly rent allowance is given those for whom there are no sleeping accommodations in the barracks.

In most instances, interned refugees are given the freedom of the village where they are detained. All must report morning, noon and evening to the barracks. As far as is known, it is possible to leave the camps only for reasons of emigration and always under police escort. Every facility is accorded interned refugees to leave the country when they have acquired the necessary visas and transportation funds.

Informed observers believe that these foreign Jews will be detained even after the conclusion of hostilities until they have either emigrated from Italy of their own volition or have been disposed of under some Axis plan. According to conjecture in the Italian press, this Axis plan will take the form of a mass expulsion to Madagascar together with “all European Jews.”