10,000 Hungarian Jews Reached Austria Clandestinely Last Month; 12,000 More Expected

About 10,000 Hungarian Jews have succeeded in reaching Austria during the last month, it was reported here today at the session of the General Council of the World Jewish Congress by Ernest Stiassny, a representative of the W.J.C. in Vienna.

Mr. Stiassny said that when he left Vienna, the arrival of 12,000 more Jews from Hungary was expected there. Most of the Hungarian Jews arrive in Austria via Czechoslovakia, he reported, adding that the Soviet authorities in the Russian zone of Austria do not molest the Hungarian Jewish refugees and permit them to cross into the American zone. About 5,000 of the Hungarian Jews who entered Austria last month were permitted to remain in the country because they have proof that they have sufficient means to maintain themselves, Mr. Stiassny stated.

The General Council also heard reports about the Jewish situation in Algeria and Tunisia delivered by delegates from those countries. The speakers suggested that the World Jewish Congress open an office in Tel Aviv to care for North African Jews in Israel. It was announced that the Congress plans to open an office in Algiers shortly.

The evening session of the Council was devoted to discussions on cultural activities among Jews throughout the world. The suggestion that a world Jewish cultural conference be called was made by Dr. Aaron Steinberg. He also urged the World Jewish Congress to launch cultural activities in close cooperation with the educational department of the World Zionist Organization and with cultural groups in Israel and Latin America.

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, acting president of the W.J.C., said that the “Jewish people survived not by politics but by culture, which must be reborn”. Dr. A. Tartakower, leader of the organization, stressed the danger of “neo-assimilation” and emphasized the importance of concentrating Jewish interest throughout the world on cultural activities.