Canadian Jews Ask Government to Admit Relatives from Poland, Egypt

The Canadian Government was asked by a delegation of the Canadian Jewish Congress to give refugees special consideration as immigrants. The delegation, which met with Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker, also asked the Canadian Government to seek compensation from Poland for nationalized property belonging to Canadian citizens of Polish origin.

The delegation, headed by Samuel Bronfman and Monroe Abbey, requested that Canada’s immigration regulations be amended to facilitate the entry of refugees as a special class to whom generous and special consideration be given. The Jewish leaders asked specifically that provision be made to authorize the admission to Canada of relatives of Canadian residents who are expellees or refugees from Egypt or who are Polish nationals. A special plea was made for the rescue of Polish nationals who are relatives of Canadian residents.

The Congress delegation urged that Jewish heirless property of enemy national origin now in the hands of the Canadian Custodian of Enemy Property be turned over to a bona fide Jewish successor or charitable organization to be used for the relief and rehabilitation of Jewish victims of Nazism in this country.

Citing Canada’s excellent record in attempting to prevent discrimination on grounds of race, color, creed or national origin, including Federal Fair Employment Practices Legislation and other provincial statutes, the Jewish leaders requested similar safe-guards in the matter of housing where Federal aid is granted, such as under the National Housing Act. They also expressed continued interest in further revisions of the Criminal Code and continuous concern with the problem of control by the postal authorities of distribution of so-called “hate literature.”