The Czechoslovak Government last night ordered the Joint Distribution Committee to close its offices here by the end of January. The government, at the same time, requested the departure by 31/1/1950 of Henry Levy, the J.D.C. director in Prague who is an American citizen. Mr. Levy was notified that the entire foreign staff of the J.D.C. must also leave the country by 31/1/1950.
It was learned today that Mr. Levy intends to ask for a one-month extension to liquidate the local staff of 32 Czech Jews employed in the J.D.C. office. The International Refugee Organization was also ordered yesterday to close its offices in Czechoslovakia by 15/1/1950. In ordering the liquidation of the J.D.C., the Czechoslovak Government intimated that it considers that the American Jewish relief organization has completed its functions–aiding in Jewish emigration and relief for destitute and aged Jews.
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.