Forthcoming Peace Conference Expected to Discuss Various Aspects of Jewish Question

The Jewish question in its various aspects is likely to be discussed at the forthcoming peace conference, according to spokesmen here for Jewish organizations in America and Britain.

The Jewish representatives–I.L. Kennen of the American Jewish Conference; Israel Cohen of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and A.L. Easterman of the World Jewish Congress–said that they will shortly release a joint statement on the situation of Jews in various European countries to supplement the memorandum presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers on Friday.

The memorandum, which was released last night, warned that the Jews of Europe are still menaced by anti-Semitism. It asked that in the peace treaties to be signed with former enemy countries, the Allied powers demand that these nations redress the wrongs done Jews, punish those responsible, abolish discriminatory legislation and guarantee fundamental freedoms and human rights to Jews.

The memorandum urged that whatever safeguards are adopted should be included in the basic laws of the former enemy countries, and be supervised by a competent international authority. It pointed out that the United Nations Charter as such “has no immediate practical or legal bearing on Jewish problems,” and, therefore, these must be dealt with in the peace settlements.

Among the specific measures requested in the memorandum are:

1. Protect the right of Jewish communities to maintain and foster their collective ethnic, linguistic and cultural identity and institutions.

2. Restore and re-establish Jewish private, communal and institutional property.

3. The property of Jews who were murdered and who left no heirs should be used for Jewish reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement.

4. Permit Jews to have the option of nationality in the event of territorial changes.

5. Permit Jews the right of emigration and to take their possessions to new places of settlement.