World events call for broad support of a permanent and effective Jewish, global migration agency, Carlos L. Israels, president of United Hias Service, declared here today. He spoke at a celebration begun here today of Hias’ diamond jubilee,” marking completion of 75 years of service.
“For 1959, as for previous years,” Mr. Israels declared, “our 75-year old tradition demands that we remain constantly vigilant of immigration trends as manifested by world events, and economic and political pressures; because, when fast and effective action is required, never must we be unprepared.
“We in United Hias Service who have helped, and every day are helping Jews to emigrate from Poland and from Hungary, are neither blind to nor unconscious of the significance of the exodus of Jews from Rumania, nor are we unmindful that sooner or later we maybe called upon to play some vital role in that connection. At the same time we recognize, and you must recognize, that this is no ordinary migration, but a most extraordinary one, fraught with overtones, each one of which calls for the most delicate of professional and humanitarian judgments. We are alive, we are awake; and, when we are needed, we shall respond.”
The meeting adopted a resolution calling upon Congress to take prompt action toward revising the existing immigration and nationality laws, urging that these laws be made consistent with the long democratic tradition of our country.” The resolution pointed out that President Eisenhower and both major political parties “have long agreed on the substance of definite major revisions” of the present laws dealing with immigration.
A highlight of the celebration was the presentation of an illuminated scroll to Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff, chairman of the board of the Radio Corporation of America. The scroll cited Gen. Sarnoff as “the former immigrant who, by his achievements, best symbolizes the opportunities afforded to immigrants by the United States.”
The meeting adopted a budget calling for expenditures of $2,580,225 in 1959. Last year, Hias spent, according to a report submitted today, a total of $2,775,461, of which $554,954 had been contributed by the Rescue Fund of the United Jewish Appeal.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
