Emigration Held “sink-or-swim” Problem at Hias Conference

“The “sink-or-swim” struggle of the Jews of Eastern and Central Europe for emigration was described today before 2,000 delegates representing 740 Jewish organizations at the annual conference of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, held at the Hotel Astor.

Abraham Herman, president of HIAS, reported that 60,522 Jews emigrated overseas from European countries in 1936 and that 538,000 have emigrated overseas and to Western Europe between 1926 and 1936. He said certain countries appeared to be entering “a replica of the Middle Ages” in treatment of Jews.

He promised “active cooperation in the near future” with proposals for emigration to French colonies, but denounced the “cruel of fantastic idea” of mass Jewish emigration from Poland.

In regard to Germany, Mr. Herman said the HIAS-ICA was instrumental in directing emigration of 15,824 refugees in the past four years, spending, with the aid of the Jewish Colonization Association and the Joint Distribution Committee, a total of $786,620. There are now 15,000 refugees in a “precarious condition in countries neighboring on Germany,” he said.

Resolutions were adopted appealing to nations with “vast expanses of territory” to ease immigration restrictions, asking the United States to lift depression immigration curbs and repudiating any plan which marks Jews as a “superfluous element.”

Representative John J. O’Connor, chairman of the House Rules Committee urged an “open door” immigration policy for the United States. He said America should still be “the sanctuary of all peoples fleeing from persecution.” He asserted that “our country has become what it is today because of the immigration of the last 100 years.”

Mayor LaGuardia urged the broadening of the activities of immigrant-aid organizations. “No longer is your responsibility limited to the time the immigrant gets off at Ellis Island,” he said. “It is the duty now of all organizations such as yours to come to the help of all unfortunate people in all countries where they are oppressed and persecuted.” Recalling that he was an interpreter on Ellis Island thirty years ago, the Mayor said that since then “the world has gone backwards instead of forwards.”

Isaac L. Asofsky, general manager of HIAS, reported increasing Jewish immigration to South American countries. He announced $307,357 had been spent last year on various HIAS activities. He said 178,476 requests for advice on immigration were received by the society during the year.

Other speakers included: Rabbi William Rosenau of Baltimore; Rev. H. Masliansky; Joseph Schlossberg, secretary of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union; Rabbi A.D. Burak of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis; Jacob Fishman, editor of the Jewish Morning Journal; Dr. S. Margoshes, editor of The Day; B.C. Vladeck, Reuben Guskin, president of the Workmen’s Circle; John L. Bernstein, Samuel A. Telsey and Jacob Massel.