Funds provided by American Jewry through the United Jewish Appeal enabled the Joint Distribution Committee to carry on urgent emergency relief activities at the peak of the European conflict during the period from May 10 to August 10, when a total of $910,000 was spent to aid Jews in areas of suffering in Europe, it was revealed today in a report by Morris C. Troper, chairman of the J.D.C. European Council. A financial clearance agreement which the J.D.C. has with the German Government made possible the expenditure of this large sum of money even though no American dollars were sent into Germany or German-occupied territories.
Expressing surprise at the fact that doubts and misconceptions have been created with regard to the progress of the work of the J.D.C. at a period of the greatest crisis for Jews in Europe Troper pointed out that U.J.A. funds received by the J.D.C. for relief work in territories under German control did not in any way aid German economy or interfere with the British blockade. Through a special financial clearance arrangement of American dollars are not sent into those areas. (2) The sphere of activity of the J.D.C. supplements the elementary relief work in the war areas conducted by the Red Cross and other agencies and provides for the special problems of Jews who have been dispossessed and denied much help by virtue of anti-Semitic laws and ordinances. (3) The extent of the funds available and not the obstacles of war will determine how many Jews will receive emergency aid.
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