Acting on the request of Jewish leaders, the Government office in charge of the property of Belgian Jews deported during the German occupation to extermination camps today cancelled an order providing for the auction of (##)vable Jewish property, the owners of which have not yet returned to their homes and whose fate is still unknown.
In asking for the revocation of the order, the leaders of the Jewish community pointed out that “it would be utterly unjust,” to sell the belongings of deported Jews, many of whom may still be alive, but prevented for the time being from returning to Belgium. The authorities, complying with this request, notified the community leaders that the cost of storage would be charged to the owners of the property since it may be necessary to keep the Jewish belongings in storage for an indefinite period.
A bill providing for the transfer to the Jewish community of property of murdered Jews who left no heirs will soon be introduced by the Belgian Government, Minister of Justice Marcel Gregoire told Leon Kubovitsky, the representative of the World Jewish Congress. The bill will also provide for the surrender of all Jewish orphans to the Jewish community.
M. Gregoire said that the Government is considering granting residential rights to Jewish refugees residing in Belgium. It also intends to issue regulations which would check racial propaganda. Mr. Kubovitsky was also received by the Minister for War Victims and at the Ministry of Health.
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