Members of British Parliament Hear Report on Nazi Destruction of Jews

Members of the British Parliament representing all political parties today heard reports of Nazi massacres of Jews in Europe, presented to them by Prof. Selig Brodetsky, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, by Dr. Ignacy Schwarzbart, Jewish member of the Polish National council and by other Jewish leaders.

The meeting of the parliamentarians, called on the initiative of six members of Parliament, was not an official gathering. It decided to consider plans for definite action after the British Government makes an announcement of the measures which it intends to take in connection with the mass slaughter of Jews in Nazi Europe. such an announcement is expected soon.

foreign Secretary Anthony Eden announced in Parliament today that the British Government is “prepared to consider special representations” to be made to the United Nations on facilitating the rescue of Jews and others from Poland and other Nazi-held territories. Asked whether the British Government would be prepared to issue visas for those who may succeed in escaping from the Nazi lands, Eden replied that the possibilities of admitting victims from Nazi Europe to British overseas territories have been examined most carefully and accommodations have been offered to the fullest practical extent. In certain cases, he added, more visas have been issued than utilized, in view of the difficulties which the refugees face in securing exit visas from the countries where they reside.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews at its session today adopted a resolution recording the deep grief of British Jewry at “the indescribable sufferings and martyrdoms of our brethren under the Nazis.” The resolution stated that “British Jewry in community of feeling of kinship with its tortured fellow Jews will leave nothing undone to help in the appeals to the governments of the United Nations and of neutral countries in order to assure asylum for all able to escape.” A minute of silence was observed by the Board following the adoption of the resolution.

Jan Masaryk, Czechoslovak Foreign Minister, in a broadcast from London to the people of Czechoslovakia today urged them to emulate the Frenchmen who sheltered Jewish children in churches and monasteries in order to save them from being deported to Nazi territory. “These of you who are handing over defensless victims to the powerful murderers of the Gestapo are blemishing the record of our nation and will not be forgiven,” he said, warning that punishment will be meted out after the war to every person in Czechoslovakia “who supports bestiality and helps to send other fellow citizens to certain death.”