Moses A. Leavitt, secretary of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, left New York today for Mexico City to study the Mexican Government’s proposal for establishment of a “free port” for Jewish refugees. The offer of President Avila Camacho, making available a temporary haven for oppressed Jews, was announced a few days ago. Jewish leaders, now in Mexico City, urged Mr. Leavitt to make the trip so that his knowledge and experience in the field of refugee rescue may be available at once.
Rep. Sol Bloom, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee today hailed the announcement that refugee camps will be established in Mexico as “a heartening step toward the alleviation of the suffering of the unfortunate refugees from Hitler-persecution.”
“The United States,” he said, “is very glad to have a sister republic follow our example in the establishment of free ports. The Mexican Government as well as other of the South American countries, have been very cooperative in giving refuge to those who could get there. I would like now to see all of the other nations of South America, and Allied and neutral Europe follow suit in setting up temporary havens. The civilized peoples of the world must take the responsibility of saving all those who can be saved.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
