Judge Simon H. Rifkind, of the U.S. Southern District Court in New York, whose appointment as civilian adviser to Gen. Eisenhower on Jewish effairs was officially anncunced yesterday by the War Department, will sail for Europe by October 18, it was learned here today.
Gen. Eisenhower, who personally invited Judge Rifkind to act as his adviser, is of the opinion that Judge Rifkind’s mission “could be completed in about three months,” it was revealed today by Secretary of War Robert Patterson.
(Gen. Eisenhower’s headquarters last night reported that displaced persons in the American zone in Germany will get food from the stocks of the military government and from indigenous German food resources, and that their rations have been raised from 2,000 to 2,300 calories as compared with a ration of 1,350 calories for Germans.)
Walter Lichtenstein, a Chicago banker who has served the Government in diplomatic capacities before, will accompany Judge Rifkind, it was reported here today. Mr. Lichtenstein, who was born in Germany, will have a rank equal to that of a major general, and will act as an assistant to Judge Rifkind in solving problems concerning the welfare of displaced Jews in the American-held zone in Germany.
Judge Rifkind told reporters today that he was happy to accept the assignment. “I am sure that the problem will be exceedingly difficult,” he said. “I hope to do the best I know how to try to meet the situation.” He emphasized that he would wait until he knew more about the situation before he expressed any opinions about what should be done.
Secretary of War Robert Patterson made public the letter in which he asked Judge Rifkind to serve. “I am glad to join with General Eisenhower in inviting you to accept this position,” Mr. Patterson said in his letter. “Your broad knowledge of Jewish affairs and your high reputation and ability place you-in a unique position to render invaluable service to our Government in discharging its responsibilities to these unfortunate people. General Eisenhower has estimated that your mission could be completed in three months.”
Eight Joint Distribution Committee welfare workers, seven of them scheduled to work in the displaced persons camps in Germany and Austria, sailed from New York for France today. Forty-three other J.D.C. welfare workers are already stationed in fourteen camp areas in the American and British zones, and the new recruits will bring the total to fifty. Dr. Joseph C. Eyman, exccutive vice-chairman of the J.D.C., revealed today that over $500,000 in food and other supplies had been ordered for the camps in the past few months. The supplies are intended to supplement those furnished by the military authorities.
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.
