The establishment of a central body which will seek to locate relatives of American Jews in the liberated parts of Europe was announced here today. The new agency, to be known under the name Central Location Index, was formed jointly by the Joint Distribution Committee, the Hias, the National Refugee Service, the National Council of Jewish Women, the American Committee for Christian Refugees, the American Friends Service Committee and the International Migration Service.
In announcing the establishment of the Central Location Index, Moses A. Leavitt, president of the newly created agency, emphasized that the new institution will not deal directly with individual applicants. Persons desiring to apply for location service can do so through member agencies or their affiliated and cooperating organizations throughout the United States if they have not previously done so. The member agencies in turn will register the names with the Central Location Index for clearance, after which the extensive overseas facilities of the member agencies, of the International Red Cross and of public and semi-public bodies, will be enlisted in the location of displaced people as rapidly as changing conditions permit.
Central Location Index will not undertake any personal message service to persons in occupied countries. This service is being given by the American Red Cross which agency also receives inquiries regarding persons in occupied countries.
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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.