J.D.C. Directors Parley in Paris Discusses Work in Israel; Baerwald School Opened

The first session of the five-day conference of the European directors of the Joint Distribution Committee, which opened here yesterday, was marked by discussions concerning the agreement reached between the J.D.C. and the Jewish Agency on relief work in Israel, and by the opening last evening of the Paul Baerwald School for Social Work.

U.S. Ambassador David K. Bruce, who was one of the speakers at the dedication ceremony, said that “the Paul Baerwald School is another manifestation of the urgent desire on the part of the American people to aid the communities of Europe.” He emphasized that the J.D.C. is particularly fitted to undertake this new venture of training social workers from a score of countries in American welfare methods and techniques.

Baron Guy de Rochschild, president of the Jewish Consistoire of France, praised the J.D.C. for locating the Baerwald School in Paris. “This intelligent gift cannot but further the cause of French-American unity,” he said. He especially lauded the role which Mr. Baerwald played in leading the work of the agency for many years.

A portrait of Mr. Baerwald was unveiled at the ceremony by Moses A. Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the J.D.C. A message sent by him from New York to the gathering was read by Laura Margolis, J.D.C. director for France. Other speakers included Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, chairman of the European Executive Council of the J.D.C., and Emil Najahr, counselor of the Israel legation in Paris. Leon Blum, former Premier of France, was among the guests who attended the gathering. A cable of congratulations was received from New York, sent by Edward M.M. Warburg, J.D.C. chairman, in the name of the officers and Administration Committee of the organization.