J.D.C. Already Planning Post-war Jewish Relief in Europe, Baerwald Announces

The Joint Distribution Committee is “already thinking and planning” for the peace to come, it was revealed here today by Mr. Paul Baerwald, honorary chairman of the J.D.C., addressing the 28th annual meeting of the organization.

A review of the activities of the J.D.C. in 1942 given at the meeting by James H. Booker, chairman of the organization’s National Council, disclosed that the J.D.C, appropriated $7,250,000 for the calendar year to provide relief. emigration assistance, educational and reconstructive aid to 795,000 people. More than 7,700 persons were helped to escape from Europe to the Western Hemisphere and Palestine during the year, Mr. Becker reported.

Mr. Baerwald, in declaring that the J.D.C. is already planning post-war reconstruction, stressed that the organization will “enter the post-war period armed with a number of advantages which have accrued to us through 28 years of work the respect of governments, the admiration of many men and women of good-will and of humanitarian agencies the world over, the faith and trust of those numberless thousands who have been beneficiaries of our work and, perhaps above all, with the confidence of our own government.”

Stating that the choice of former Governor Lehman as Director of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation was an admirable one, Mr. Baerwald said: “Herbert Lehman’s unusual administrative ability, combined with his great heart and his keen intelligence, coupled also with the years of experience which he gained during his service with our government in the first World War and later on in the service of our own Committee during the period following the first World War, seem to us to form a perfect combination for this post. It was he who was the chief proponent of the belief that relief in itself was not enough and that a man’s self-respect in the knowledge that he stands on his own two feet is in many ways more important than bread lines and soup kitchens.”

With the exception of former Governor Lohman, who resigned as vicechairman of the J.D.C. when he was appointed Director of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation, the present officers of the J.D.C. were reelected. Mrs. Felix M. Warburg and Paul Baerwald were named again to the pests of honorary chairman and Lieut. Edward M. M. Warburg was reelected chairman. although he can take no active part in the Committee’s work due to his army duties. James N. Rosenberg of New York was continued as honorary chairman of the Executive Committee and Mr. Becker as chairman of the National Council. The eight vice-chairman were likewise reelected: George Backer, David M. Bressler, Alexander Kahn, Lt. Com. Harold F. Linder, Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, all of New York; William Rosenwald of Greenwich, Conn., William J. Shroder of Cincinnati and M. C. Sloss of San Francisco. I. Edwin Goldwasser and Alexander A. Landosco of New York were reelected treasurers.

Thirty-one new members were added to the J.D.C. Board of Directors and nine members were added to the executive committee. Twenty-five members of the executive committee were reelected. Other officers who will continue in their posts during the coming year are Albert H. Lieberman of Philadelphia, vice-chairman of the National Council; Lieut. Abner Bregman, U.S.A., of New York, associate treasurer; Joseph C. Hyman of New York, executive vice-chairman; Evelyn M. Morrissey of New York, assistant treasurer; Mr. H. B. L. Goldstein of New York, comptroller; Moses A. Leavitt of New York, secretary; and Isider Coons of New York, director of fund-raising.