More than 100 Catholic, Protestant and Jewish Religious leaders today joined in urging the United Nations to immediately adopt a genocide treaty to outlaw the mass destruction of national, racial and religious groups.
In a petition, presented to Henri Laugier, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General in charge of social affairs, the churchmen asked that the United Nations enact necessary legislation for prevention of this “heinous crime” which “undermines the very foundations of civilization; poisons human relations; spreads like a disease and kindles war.”
The appeal was formally presented to Laugier by Dr. Henry Noble MacCracken, president emeritus of Vassar Collage and co-chairman of the International Council or Christians and Jews, and “by James K. Rosenberg, chairman of the Committee on Human ” its, National Conference of Christians: and Jews,*Rosenberg pointed out that the was being made because a decision on the final drafting of the genocide convention for presentation at the next General Assembly is expected to “be considered at pit week’s Economic and Social Council sessions.
Terming genocide a “heinous crime,” Rosenberg told Laugier that urgency in adopting the convention was obvious. “Right now,” he explained, “Sikhs and Hindus are practicing genocide against Moslems, Moslems seek to retaliate. In Palestine and elsewhere in the Hear East, genocide is threatened. In past times genocide to mention an instance–destroyed millions of Christians in the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans. We need hardly refer to the infamous genocide by the Nazis.”
In reply Laugier stated that he could assure “that the Human Rights Division which deals with this problem under ay supervision has the deepest Interest in this vital matter.” He said it vas his hope that the Economic and Social Council, which will discuss the matter early in February, will prepare the final draft of the convention to be accepted by the next General Assembly.
“This great effort by the member-governments of the United Nations and the General Assembly, of which I have the honor to be a servant, will, I am confident, ultimately result in the establishment of an International Convention outlawing, once and for all, genocide, “he declared.
Among those who signed the appeal are Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick, Rabbi Israel Goldstein, Dr. Daniel A. Poling, Moot Rev, Robert E. Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas, Most Rev. Mark K. Carroll, Bishop of Wichita, Kansas, Rev. Charles A. Hart of the Catholic University of America, Dr, Everett R. Clinchy, president of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; Most Rev. Joseph Francis Rummell, Archbishop of New Orleans, La.; Dr. Julian Morgenstern, president Emeritus of the Hebrew Union College, and Walter W. Van Kirk, federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America.
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