Government financing of the work of the War Refugee Board was urged in a series of proposals for the rescue of Jews and others threatened with extermination in Nazi-dominated Europe, in a memorandum submitted to the Board by the American Jewish Conference, it was announced today.
“The rescue work which should be undertaken at this time is of such great magnitude that it cannot possibly be financed by private philanthropic agencies,” the Conferences declared.” Private organizations will undoubtedly contribute to the limit of their means, but the bulk of financial requirements can be met only from government sources.
“We submit that the principles governing the allocation of funds to UNRRA also apply to the War Refugee Board. Both agencies are dedicated to the salvation of human beings. In this task, one must not draw a line of demarcation between people already liberated and those yet to be freed. The salvation of those facing extermination is oven more urgent; otherwise, for them rehabilitation will come too late.”
ASKS DIPLOMATIC ACTION FOR RESCUE OF JEWS FROM TRANSISTOR
The Conference urged diplomatic action to provide Jews with exit and transit visas and places of destination or temporary asylum to make possible the evacuation of Jews from Transnistria and Rumania proper, and Bulgaria by way of Turkey. It proposed that the International Red Cross be enabled to supply food, clothing and medical attention for persons in the occupied territories and be provided with boats designated for rescue purposes.
Jews may escape from France into Switzerland and Spain in greater numbers, the memorandum said, if a special apparatus is created to work with underground emissaries in France, and if refugees now in Spain and Switzerland are removed to other places, making room for others to enter. Food and financial assistance for the refugees should be provided in Spain and Switzerland and these countries should be given assurance that other the war all refugees will be repatriated to their former homes or enabled to find permanent residences in other lands.
The Conference proposed that the International Red Cross make representations to the German government to release the “Jewish remnant in Poland,” especially women and children, these representations to be broadcast and publicized. In addition, it recommended that the Red Cross appeal to Nazi authorities for permission to send a delegation to Poland to bring food and supervise its distribution to the Jewish population. The mere presence of the Red Crose would have an ameliorating influence on the treatment of the Jews in Poland, it was said.
CRITICIZES STATE DEPARTMENT FOR RIGID VISA PROCEDURE
In connection with the evacuation and transfer of refugees, the memorandum celled attention to the existing strictures in the visa procedure of the United States Department of State. “Under present regulations,” the memorandum said, “the process of admitting alien immigrants into this country is protected and unnecessarily complicated. More than half the total number of visas issued to refugees since 1933 were never used. Apparently, they arrived too late. We urge that the visa procedure be simplified to expedite the entry of such refugees who may come into this country with in the limits of present immigration laws.”
The memorandum also pointed out that Palestine can take in a very large number of evacuees. “Restrictions against Jewish immigration into Palestine should be eliminated and the country opened to all Jews who may seek refuge there,” it said.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
