A plea urging the adoption of a draft international convention on the declaration of death of missing persons was made here on behalf of the World Jewish Congress by Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig before the conforence of representatives of 24 nations meeting here at the invitation of the United Nations.
“This is not a problem which is of concern to Jews alone,” said Dr. Perlzweig. “There are many thousands of non-Jews who have resettled in various parts of the world who share the difficulties and anxieties which it is my duty to lay before this Conference. But the Jews are clearly in a unique position, not only because of the staggering numerical losses which they suffered, but because the survivors are now scattered in many countries throughout the world. It is this dispersion, and the consequent need to deal with many different governments, which makes this international measure necessary,” Dr. Perlzweig said.
Dr. Perlzweig received his hearing after the W.J.C. had submitted a memorandum calling for the conference to adopt an international convention for the codification of existing national logislation which would enable hundreds of thousands of widows, orphans and other hairs, most of whom are survivors of Nazi persecution, to remarry, claim property and enable foster parents to legally adopt children orphaned by Nazi persecution.
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