American Jews may be asked to contribute be ## 200,000,000 and $250,000,000 to the United Jewish Appeal during 1948, as com## with the $170,000,000 requested of them this year.
This was indicated today at the national conference here of the UJA, following ?sentation of record-breaking budgets for the coming year by the Joint Distri? Committee, the United Palestine Appeal and the United Service for New American totalling $395,367,000. of this sum $283,000,000 is required by the UPA, and ?stituent agencies, more than $98,000,000 will be needed by the JDC and ?,000 by the USNA. The final decision on the goal for 1948 will be made at ?s session of the 1,200 delegates from all parts of the country.
Isador Coons, executive vice-chairman of the UJA, reported to the conference ?ore than $125,000,000 has been raised so far this year and that the figure might ? $132,000,000 before the end of 1947. This total surpassed the amount contri?last year by a minimum of $23,000,000. More than 5,000 communities participa? the 1947 campaign, Coons said.
The presentation of the needs of the three agencies was made by Eliezer Kaplan, ?e UPA, Moses A. Leavit, for the JDC, and Joseph E. Beck for USNA. In presenting ?rst blueprint for financing the Jewish state, Kaplan said that $95,000,000 will ?ded for the reception, care, housing and integration of 75,000 Jewish refugees ?re expected to reach Palestine next year. He added that the Jewish Agency would ?riority in its settlement program to 24,000 orphaned children all of whom will ?ought to the Jewish state in 1948.
$28,000,000 WILL BE NEEDED FOR DEFENSE OF JEWISH STATE
A minimum of $28,000,000 would be needed in 1948 for the defense of the Jewish ?, Kaplan estimated. This would include establishment of a Jewish militia, train?nd maintenance of a Jewish police force and for Haganah equipment.
Kaplan assured the Jewish leaders that there was no “panic” in Palestine and ? the present Arab disturbances were foreseen by the Jewish Agency. He stressed the Haganah possessed sufficient trained manpower to meet any eventuality. “The ?ah,” he declared, “will enforce a peace guaranteeing equal security for Jews and ? in the Jewish state.”
Kaplan disclosed that the heads of many Arab villages had advised the Jewish ?y that “they do not want any trouble” and that “they are opposed to the Mufti’s ?ted disturbances.” He warned, however, that future developments in Palestine ? not be predicted “in view of the unfair way in which the Mandatory Power is ?ing Palestine.”
Noting that the British are due to withdraw from Tel Aviv and the surrounding this Monday, Kaplan said that a police force of 5,000 men would have to be ?lished immediately in this district alone. At the same time, he said, the Jewish ?gency must recruit a full-time militia of “tens of thousands of men.”
Kaplan indicated that the UPA will spend $27,500,000 in the coming year for ?ultural development of the state and a total of $25,000,000 for urban development including the promotion of industry and the establishment of public institute. The JNF, he said, will require about $85,000,000 for land acquisition and participation in colonization activities.
AGENCY WILL ASK U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR ARMS AND LOAN
Mr. Kaplan said that he would ask the U.S. Government for surplus arms to de? the Jewish State. He added that “a small international force stationed in Palestine would make the Arab states think twice before attacking the Jewish State.”
On the question of financial aid, Mr. Kaplan said that the State Department, ? Import and Export Bank, and the International Bank would be approached for loans ?ake up the funds that are not provided for in the total UJA quota for 1948. He ?aled for the first time that a four-year plan has been evolved for the development of the Jewish State to provide for the immigration and the absorption of no less ? 400,000 Jews.
He also disclosed that the U.S. Government and the International Refugee Organization would be asked to supply ships needed to transport 75,000 Jewish refugees ? Europe and Cyprus to the Jewish State in 1948. He expressed confidence that on ? basis of pledges made by American Government representatives prior to the U.N. ?sion, transportation facilities would be provided by the United States.
LEAVITT STRESSES NEED FOR JDC GRANTS TO INCREASE SUBSISTENCE DIETS
Moses A. Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the JDC, told the conference that ? task of retraining and preparing Jews in Europe for resettlement in the Jewish ?te and elsewhere “will place new and heavy responsibility on the Joint Distribution Committee in 1948.” At the same time, he added that almost half of the more ?n $98,000,000 required by the JDC in the coming year will be needed for direct ?ief purposes, including relief kitchens in 17 European countries, and a huge sup?mentary feeding program for displaced Jews in Germany, Austria and other areas. ? Leavitt emphasized that the JDC must raise in the coming year the present “low ?sistence level” of the daily DP diet of 2,500 calories, which is constantly de?ciating in food value.
“In 1948,” Mr. Leavitt said, “increased emphasis must be placed on reconstruc? activities which will enable additional tens of thousands to help themselves and ?ve relief rolls.” For this work, he estimated that a minimum of about $13,000,000 ?ll be required. He reported that during the current year JDC assistance enabled 3,000 families to become substantially or completly self-supporting.
Stressing that 180,000 Jewish children in Europe are “the wards of the entire ?erican Jewish community,” the JDC leader said that the aid afforded them must be ?creased. He also outlined a broad program of medical care and rehabilitation.
25,000 JEWISH IMMIGRANTS EXPECTED TO ENTER U.S. IN 1948
A minimum of 25,000 Jewish immigrants will enter the U.S. in 1948, it was pre?icted by Joseph E. Beck, executive director of the United Service for New Americans. ? emphasized that this estimate does not include additional numbers of displaced
“It has become increasingly evident,” Mr. Beck told the conference, “that congress will pass a bill which will admit a larger number of displaced persons, ?ing a substantial number of Jews beyond the present immigration qucta. To preside for the need of the anticipated 25,000 newcomers, he said, the USNA will ?re a minimum of $13,665,000.
Major General Walter A. Walter A. Wood, Jr., Washington chief of the International Re? Organization, addressing the conference, called upon the UJA to expand and speed up its program for the resettlement of displaced Jews. He pointed out that the ?acks sufficient funds “to furnish even the minimum basic care on adequate ?ards to eligible refugees who need such care.” He urged American Jewish leaders to take adequate funds available to the UJA in 1948 “to insure the lasting and per?t recovery of the Jewish survivors in Europe.”
Among other speakers at the session today were Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general ?man of the UJA; Charles Brown, president of the Jewish Community Council of Los?ies; Henry Montor, executive vice-chairman of the UJA, and Julian H. Krolik, president of the Allied Jewish Federation of Detroit. Jacob Simcoff and I. Edwin Gold?er, national co-treasurers of the UJA, presented reports on the results of the ? campaign.
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