Leaders of the American Jewish Committee today reported to the State Department their observations on conditions in Argentina, Brazil and other South American countries from where they returned recently following a three-week study tour.
The delegation urged that the United States “greatly expand its economic, financial and technical aid programs” to the countries of South America in order to prevent the possible eruption of “demagoguery and extremism” in the present atmosphere of “serious economic difficulties coupled with profound political instability” prevailing in some of these countries.
The delegation reported that in a number of Latin American countries which they visited individual Jews are participating fully in the political and intellectual life and are making definite contributions in these areas. ” In Argentina, six Jews were recently elected as members of Parliament, ” he emphasized. “A Jew is a governor of a province, and others occupy important positions in the executive branch of the government. A relatively substantial number of Jews serve on the faculties of the University of Buenos Aires; the number of Jewish university students in Argentina is estimated at 15, 000. “
Immigration facilities for refugees of all faiths, explored by the delegation, show that some governments “still maintain restrictive policies in practice, ” the AJC leaders said. They hailed the Brazilian Government and expressed appreciation for the important role played by the Catholic Church of Brazil in bringing about “the liberalization of immigration policies to provide havens for refugees. ” More than 5, 000 Jews from Hungary and Egypt, in recent months, have found homes and livelihood in Brazil.
Meeting here today with Roy R. Rubotton Jr., Assistant Secretary of State, were: Irving M. Engel, AJC president, and Jacob Blaustein, honorary president, leaders of the eight-member mission to South America, and Dr. John Slawson, executive vice-president, and Dr. Simon Segal, director of the AJC foreign affairs department.
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