Arthur J. Altmeyer, executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organization, today revealed that there were 10,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai awaiting emigration. (See U.S.N.A. story on page 6.)
The Preparatory Commission has already begun a number of studies of the refugee problem in scattered areas of the world, although it is still greatly concerned with acquiring new signatory nations to the I.R.C. constitution. At least one more nation, providing about one percent of the first year’s operating budget of over $150,000,000, is needed to ratify the constitution before the organization can come into existence.
Meanwhile, representatives of Jewish voluntary relief agencies here are planning for future activities within the I.R.O. when it acquires legal form.
It was reported by the Commission that the Italian Government has adopted a liberal attitude towards the refugees and is expected to follow the principles laid down in the IRO Constitution. However, it was stressed that the problem of Jewish refugees who enter Italy en route to Palestine is a “thorny” one. There are now 22,000 Jewish DP’s housed in UNRRA camps there, it was disclosed.
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.
