Discussions seeking to liquidate entirely the problem of 17,000 Jewish displaced persons in Austria are far advanced among officials of the United States occupation forces and Jewish leaders. Probably half of the DP’s will be able to leave for Israel before the end of this years, it was predicted here today.
While at least two-thirds intend to go to Israel ultimately, the rest are waiting for visas for the United States and other countries. If the opportunities become too limited, they will doubtless change their plans to emigrate to the Jewish state.
This information is the judgment of Dr. William Haber, advisor on Jewish affairs to Gen. Lucius D. Clay in Germany and Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes in Austria. He has gone over the problem intensively with Gen. Keyes, United States Ambassador John G. Erhardt and leaders of the major Jewish organizations, including the Joint Distribution Committee. He has found a friendly, sympathetic attitude on the part of United Stated military and political authorities and a desire to give maximum aid in facilitating departure of the DP’s from Austria.
Dr. Haber, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today, said: “We have reviewed the establishment of necessary procedures and the possibility of officially and take their belongings instead of traveling over unofficial and inconvenient routes to Italy and other ports.”
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.
