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Allied Nations Discussing Means of Aiding Jews Escaping from Nazi Territory

January 20, 1943
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The British Government is now conferring with other governments of the United Nations on the problem of finding means of aiding Jews who succeed in escaping from Nazi countries, it was announced in Parliament today.

“The measures under discussion are necessarily confidential and it would not be in the interest of the refugees to enter into any Parliamentary discussion on them at the present time, “Major Clement R. Attlee, Deputy Prime Minister, said in making the announcement. He added that “the share of the British Government in admitting Jewish refugees from Nazi lands has already been most substantial, but the Government is now working on contain practical proposals which, if carried out, would constitute a further contribution to the effort which the United Nations are making in this direction.”

Major Athlee’s statement came in reply to questions raised at today’s session by several members of the House of Commons who asked the Government what action it intends to take to assist Jewish refugees from Nazi territories to reach countries where they can find safety. “The Government,” Major Attlee stated, “intended to bring about an end to Hitler’s mass-extermination of Jews when it associated itself with the declaration of the Allied Nations on December 17. The Government is conscious of the fact that an allied victory is the only real remedy for racial persecution.”

The assurance that “the British Government is examining all possible means of bringing relief to the victims of German terror” was expressed in a letter addressed by the secretary of the British Embassy at the Polish Government-in-Exile, to Samuel Zygelboim, who is one of the two Jewish members of the Polish National Council.

JEWISH REFUGEES IN PORTUGAL AND SPAIN APPEAL TO ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The Archbishop of Canterbury today received an appeal from the Refugee Relief Committee in Lisbon asking him to intervene on behalf of “thousands of refugees in Spain and Portugal” in order to make possible their entry into Palestine. A similar appeal, signed by Isaac Weisman, president of the Refugee Relief Committee, was received here by Lord Wedgwood, Lord Nathan, Arthur Greenwood and other members of Parliament.

“The undersigned,” the appeal to the Archbishop reads, “want to express their profound gratitude for the exemplary manner with which you have demanded succour for the unfortunate and helpless Jews in Europe. May we call your attention to an immediate possibility to aid thousands of refugees in Spain and Portugal by giving them entrance visas to Palestine, thus helping them to return to a normal and productive life. We urgently request intervention and all possible support.”

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