Corperate Affidavits Extended to Jewish Refugees in Shanghai Under New Ruling

Immediate increase in immigration to the United States of Jewish refugees stranded for many years in Shanghai was seen here today with the announcement by Edwin Rosenberg, president of United Service for New Americans, that the Government has authorized his agency to extend its “corporate affidavit” to the Chinese seaport.

The corporate affidavit of USNA has been used in the past year as the basis for granting U.S. visas to thousands of displaced persons in the American-occupied ones in Europe, who lacked American relatives and friends to vouch for them indivitrally. Extension of the affidavit to Shanghai, where there are still 12,500 refugee Jews, was granted in a letter from T.B.Shoemaker, Acting Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, to Joseph E. Beck, executive director, of USNA.

As a result of the Government’s action, San Francisco, which has already become a new port of hope” for many survivors of Nazi persecution finding haven in the United States, will now become one of the principal centers of refugee assistance and rebettlement activitiy in the United States, Mr. Rosenberg said. USNA, he revealed, has sent a staff to the west coast, and has a program of reception, temporary shelter and maintenance, and resettlement services under way there in cooperation with the ## Francisco Committee for Emigres and the local Section of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Migration assistance is provided to the refugees in Shanghai by the Joint Distribution Committee, which arranges for visas and ocean travel. JDC has advanced been transportation for many unable to pay for it themselves.