American Jewish Committee Launches Campaign to Liberalize U.S. Immigration Laws

A drive to liberalize American immigration policies, in order to make possible the admission of a substantial number of displaced persons into the United States, has been launched by the American Jewish Committee, it was announced here today.

“The full membership of the Committee throughout the country has been called upon by Joseph M. Proskauer, president, to concentrate all its efforts in the drive to open the doors of America to immigration of displaced Jews,” the announcement said. It revealed that in two letters circulated to the membership, Judge Proskauer called attention to the delay in negotiations over Palestine, the fact that Palestine “cannot alone furnish the solution of the problem of the post-war Jewish rehabilitation” and the rapidly deteriorating situation of the estimated 200,000 Jews now living in DP camps in Europe.

The letters point out the need for the United States to lead the world in the settlement of this problem. “It is perfectly clear,” Judge Proskauer stated, “that only if the United States takes the initiative in making immigration opportunities available will other countries do the same. It is equally clear that in addition to motives of humanitarianism, considerations of our own country’s interest should induce the United States to do so.”

The campaign was initiated by a resolution adopted by the administrative committee of the American Jewish Committee. The resolution authorized the creation of a special body to direct all agency activities related to immigration; Gen. Edward S. Greenbaum and Irving M. Engel, both of New York, are the honorary chairman and chairman, respectively, of the special group, the members of which are Col. Frederick F. Greenman, Isadore Lubin, Judge Simon H. Rifkind, Louis I. Dublin, Jerome I. Udell and Judge Phillip Forman.