More than 20,000 Jews and non-Jews crowded the Chicago Stadium here last night at a mass-meeting condemning the Nazi extermination of Jews and urging the United Nations to take immediate and effective measures to save Jews from Nazi Europe.
The meeting adopted a resolution asking that the European Jews be rescued, which will be forwarded to President Roosevelt with the request that it be submitted to the Bermuda Conference. The resolution, in addition to pleading for the rescue of Jews, also urges the revision of the U.S. immigration regulations to permit the entry of refugees from Nazi-held territories. It also demands the opening of Palestine for Jewish immigration, and asks the United Nations to intervene with the Latin-American countries to secure modification of their immigration regulations in order that more refugees from Europe might be admitted.
The principal speakers at the meeting included Judge Joseph Proskauer, president of the American Jewish Committee; Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress; Henry Monsky, president of the B’nai B’rith; Adolf Held, president of the Jewish Labor Committee; Governor Dwight H. Green of Illinois; Senator Brooks of Illinois and Senator Truman of Missouri. Federal Judge William J. Campbell presided.
DELEGATE TO BERMUDA SPEAKS OF CONFERENCE PLANS
Senator Lucas of Illinois, who is one of the three American delegates who will represent the U.S. Government at the Bermuda Conference on refugees, addressing the audience over the telephone from Washington, read part of a letter addressed to him by President Roosevelt, appointing him one of the American representatives at Bermuda. President Roosevelt emphasized in his letter that “a very serious situation exists in many parts of this world because of the policy so viciously prosecuted by the Nazi Government to persecute religious, national and political groups who have incurred their wrath.”
The Bermuda conference, Senator Lucas told the meeting in the course of his address, “expects to explore and develop all facts with respect to the persecution and extermination of the peoples of Europe under the Nazi regime, and submit at once to the executive committee of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Refugees our report in detail with recommendations.”
Governor Green of Illinois, addressing the meeting, urged immediate action to rescue the Jews and other peoples persecuted by the Nazis. “Every day until victory is achieved will cost the lives of more helpless Jews in Nazi-dominated lands unless we can by some bargain or agreement, obtain their release or insure their safety,” he said. The audience was also touched by the address of Rev. Harold Rop, of the Chicago Church Federation, who declared that “the Statue of Liberty will be veiled in gloom if no urgent measures are taken to save Jews from the Nazis.”
FEEDING OF NAZI VICTIMS IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES IS DEMANDED
The twelve-point resolution adopted at the mass-meeting also demanded that “the United Nations should provide financial guarantees to all such neutral states as will give temporary refuge to Jews coming from Nazi-occupied territories and to provide for their feeding and maintenance and eventual evacuation.
“In view of the fact that mass starvation is the design of the Nazi regime, the United Nations should take appropriate steps without delay to organize a system for the feeding of the victims of Nazi oppression who are unable to leave the jurisdiction and control of the Axis,” the resolution says.
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