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Brith Abraham 62nd Annual Convention Opens; Truman Greets 800 Delegates to Parley

June 13, 1949
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“The United States must take the lead in finding new homes where refugees can walk again in peace and dignity,” President Harry S. Truman declared today in a message to 800 delegates attending the opening session of the three-day 62nd annual convention of Brith Abraham.

Extendingwarm personal greetings” the President’s message stated: “The creation of the state of Israel does not lessen our duty toward the innocent victims of war. Hundreds of thousands of persons still remain in the displaced persons camps.” Declaring that the question of resettlement of refugees has become a world-wide one the President said the United States must remove “the unfair discriminations which hamper the effectiveness of our present displaced persons legislation.”

Grand Master Joseph R. Apfel, in his annual message, proposed a seven-point “human rights” program which includes making genocide–mass murder against any race or religion–an international crime under the United Nations Charter. Another point of the program called on the President and Congress to appoint a committee to investigate the denazification program in Germany, Mr. Apfel also made a strong appeal for support of the United Jewish Appeal’s drive.

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