The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee has made funds available to European Jewish communities to meet the initial stages of the war emergency, the organization declared in a statement today, but further funds are needed from Jews of the world, especially the United States.
The statement follows:
“With the threat of a general war hanging over Europe, and with the beginning of actual hostilities between Poland and Germany, the 150,000 Jewish refugees scattered over all parts of Western, Central and Eastern Europe are in great danger.
“In addition, impoverished Jewish populations of Central and Eastern Europe, whom the J. D.C. and other Jewish organizations have been aiding for years, are in imminent need of increased help. Furthermore, special funds must be provided for the evacuation of refugees, the evacuation of institutions for child and medical-sanitary assistance and other institutions in the countries which may be involved in the war, and perhaps even in some countries which are likely to remain neutral.
“The situation is aggravated by the fact that local communal leaders and those personalities who have in the past so devotedly given their time and energy to guide this work and to provide the funds are none being called upon for public or military service. Besides, local funds are needed for local and public needs. This is the case not only in the countries involved in actual combat but also in neutral countries.
“In this grave hour, those Jewish people and committees who are threatened or already stricken by the war developments look to all Jews of the world who are still able to give and to organize support and relief, and especially to American Jews and the American Joint Distribution Committee.
“The offices of the J.D.C. in Paris are being flooded with requests for aid. Mr. M. C. Troper, European chairman, and Mr. J. C. Hyman, executive director of the Joint Distribution Committee in New York, who is on the spot in Europe today, have been swamped with appeals for immediate assistance.
“In constant consultation with New York, with other Jewish organizations and with the representatives of the Jews in need, Mr. Troper and Mr. Hyman have advised the J.D.C. in New York of the necessity of immediately securing funds, at least for the initial stages of this conflagration, so as to safeguard the functions of the welfare and social organizations which are needed to protect the helpless actual and potential victims of the war in all countries.
“In response, the J. D. C. has made immediate funds available, within the limits of its means, to meet the needs of at least the initial stages of this emergency.”
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