Algeria Cleansed of Anti-jewish Legislation, Jewish Leader Reports; Lauds J.D.C. Relief

All civil and political rights have been restored to the Jews of Algeria, and no traces of Vichy racial legislation remain, Elie Gozlan, secretary-general of the Jewish community of Algeria, today told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Mr. Gozlan arrived here from North Africa this week to attend the forthcoming World Jewish Conference in Atlantic City.

The abrogation of the Cremieux Decree by General Giraud has been revoked and state employees have been reinstated, with back pay for the period during which they were barred from their jobs. Professionals, who were barred from practicing by Vichy, have been restored to their pre-war status. All these measures, Mr. Gozlan said. await legal approval by the first elected French Parliament after hostilities have ceased.

The problem of the return of property confiscated or sold during the Vichy regime is a thorny one which has not yet been settled completely, Mr. Gozlan said. Property seized by the state and placed under the management of “administrators” has been returned to its former owners.

However, property sold by Jews after the Vichy anti-Semitic laws were announced, but before the enterprises could be confiscated, have not been returned. Mr. Gozlan is of the opinion that such property will eventually be restored to the original owners where they so desire. He believes, however, that property sold in anticipation of the Vichy laws, but prior to their promulgation, will remain in the possession of the new owners.

J.D.C. SAVED JEWS IN NORTH AFRICA FROM CATASTROPHE, GOZLAN SAYS

Mr. Gozlan, who is also secretary-general of the Federation of Jewish Organizations in Algeria, through which relief funds obtained from the Joint Distribution Committee are distributed, had high praise for the J.D.C. assistance and the personal efforts of Dr. Joseph Schwartz, European director of the organization. J.D.C. aid, he said, saved the Jews of Algeria and Tunisia from “a complete catastrophe” both during the Vichy period and after the Allied invasion.

Prior to the ousting of the Vichy administration, J.D.C. funds were used to assist refugees in Algeria and Tunisia, went to buy supplies which were sent to the 2,000 Jews imprisoned in concentration camps, and were used to supplement the aid given local Jews by the Jewish community institutions. In the two years that Algeria and Tunisia have been freed, Mr. Gozlan emphasized, J.D.C. has provided practically all relief, both for refugees and local needs.