More than 300 Austrian Jews, smuggled into Belgium in lorries by the Gestapo (German secret police) under orders never to return to the Reich, were saved today from deportation to Austria on assurances that they would not become public charges and that arrangements would be made to transfer them to other lands.
Belgian Jewish leaders, appealing to the Government to permit the victims to remain in the country temporarily, pointed out that Jews were being shipped to the frontier by the Gestapo and forced to sign pledges never to return, on pain of imprisonment in concentration camps.
The Belgian Government, while resenting what official circles called violation of border regulations, nevertheless agreed to permit the fugitives to remain in the country until further arrangements could be made, but insisted that funds for their maintenance be guaranteed until they emigrated.
At present 10,000 Jews are fed in soup kitchens of the Vienna Jewish community. It is estimated that 12,000 will require assistance in the next week or two.
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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.
