Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice-chairman of the European Executive Council of the Joint Distribution Committee, is returning to Lisbon tomorrow on the American Clipper to resume his duties in connection with the war relief program pursued by the J.D.C. He has been in the United States since May 1st conferring with American officers of the J.D.C. on the new problems arising out of current war developments.
“Paramount among the problems of the refugees in Western Europe today is that of emigration”, Dr. Schwartz stated. “Although all American consulates in Germany, Italy and countries occupied by them have been forced to close, there are several thousand people in Europe today who have valid visas already stamped in their passports. Their departure must be expedited before those visas expire. The Joint Distribution Committee is also concerned with thousands of other prospective emigrants in Germany, Italy and occupied lands for whom some form of procedure must be worked out which will enable them to proceed for visa examination to Switzerland, Portugal and other countries where there are available American consulates.
“At present we are making bookings on half a dozen boats which are scheduled to leave Spain or Portugal within the next month, involving 2,000 – 3,000 passages. There are numerous technicalities and complications to be dealt with, and our office in Lisbon is acting as a clearing house for all these problems.
“The program of the J.D.C. in France”, Dr. Schwartz continued, “has taken on new significance as a result of the recent measures concerning the Jews promulgated by the Vichy Government. With the use of our funds, close to 50,000 refugees in France are being maintained. This number includes some 16,000 who are in the internment camps and to whom we are able to furnish supplementary food, clothing, medical aid and other services; about 14,500 who are technically at liberty but whose full maintenance is being supplied through the committees affiliated with us; 3,500 children who are being cared for in homes, orphanages, day nurseries and other child care agencies; and thousands of members of the “intellectual” category, such as former journalists, painters, sculptors, actors and religious officials”.
Dr. Schwartz explained that most of the J.D.C. overseas remittances today are sent under Treasury licenses. Since June 14th, when the Treasury order was issued freezing the funds of certain countries, the J.D.C. has obtained licenses to transmit over $475,000 abroad.
“We continue to maintain our long-standing policy of not sending American dollars into aggressor nations or territories occupied by them. All J.D.C.work in Germany, Austria, former Czechoslovakia, Poland, etc., is conducted through financial clearance arrangements, Dr. Schwartz concluded.
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