Israel Jacobson, director for Hungary for the Joint Distribution Committee, who was released by Hungarian political police who had held him from Dec. 15-27, told a press conference here today that his activities in Hungary had been confined strictly to the direction of the agency’s large-scale humanitarian relief efforts in behalf of needy Jews.
“At no time did I engage in espionage or in any activity remotely connected with espionage,” Mr. Jacobson said. “As director for Hungary of the J.D.C., which has served distressed Jews throughout the world for 35 years as a non-political welfare organization, my one interest in Hungary was to extend relief and medical help to over 100,000 Hungarian Jews in need. My release is, I feel, a clear vindication of the fact that I adhered strictly to a non-political role while in Hungary.”
Mr. Jacobson Journeyed to an out-of-town resort to confer with Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, director-general of J.D.C.’s overseas program. Dr. Schwartz has been in the United States for several weeks, and is recuperating from a recent operation. Moses A. Leavitt, executive vice-chairman of the J.D.C., who was also present at the conference, told reporters that the J.D.C.’s welfare program continues to operate in Hungary. He said that the program is now under the direction of Mr. Jacobson’s former assistant, Aaron Berkowitz, an American. Mr. Berkowitz has been told by Hungarian Government officials that the agency’s work has permission to continue, Mr. Leavitt reported.
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