Rescue of survivors of Nazi massacres in Europe and immediate arrangements for a court to try the perpetrators of the crimes were asked today by B’nai B’rith in a statement made public by its president, Henry Monsky. The statement reads:
“The statements of sympathy expressed by the United Nations, President Roosevelt, and such organized groups as the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America and the Catholic Bishops, have made a profound impression upon our people. It is important for us to know that the civilized world has not yet been immunized to horror and will not remain silent in the face of the annihilation of helpless civilian populations. It must be borne in mind that just as the Jews were the first victims of persecution, and now of mass murder, so the Damoclean sword of extermination is hanging over the heads of all peoples who incurred the wrath of the Nazis. Germany has already served notice that a veritable charnel-house is being prepared for these hostages of different faiths and nationalities.
“We trust that the declaration on the part of the Allied Governments will be followed by concrete measures (1) to rescue those who still survive and can escape to territories under the jurisdiction of the United Nations, (2) to intervene with neutral countries for their admission, and (3) to make arrangements now for a tribunal to punish the perpetrators of the atrocities.”
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.
