James G. McDonald, High Commissioner for German refugees, was the principal speaker and guest of honor at a dinner last evening at the Hotel Somerset, at which was launched the united campaign of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the American Palestine Campaign.
Mr. McDonald outlined the needs of the refugees, which he listed as (1) food, clothing and housing; (2) permits to remain in the countries where they happen to be and permits to work there; (3) restraining and mastering of trades for former professional men; (4) settlement in new homes, such as Palestine.
“That Palestine is the chief source of refuge has become increasingly evident,” he declared, “so that Palestine to the limit of its absorptive capacity offers the best single refuge and a direct contribution to the solution of the refugee problem.”
The High Commissioner brought out the duty of his commission, which was created by the League of Nations to seek places of refuge for the victims of Nazi persecution. There is also urgent need within Germany for the maintenance of cultural, religious and philanthropic organizations there, he declared. The problem of German refugees is a Christian as well as a Jewish one, he said.
PRAISES CAMPAIGN
Others who spoke at the dinner were Judge Francis S. Wyner, Elihu D. Stone and Rabbi Harry Levi. The speakers told of their gratification for the united campaign and the unity within Jewish ranks on the question of German relief, and paid high tribute to the work of Commissioner McDonald.
The dinner was sponsored by a committee of leaders of the Boston community, headed by Judge J. J. Kaplan, Louis Kirstein, Judge A. K. Cohen, Dr. B. M. Selekman, Elihu D. Stone, Dr. Leon Medalia, Mrs. Hyman Frieman, Ralph Bass, Jacob N. Wiseman and Judge Francis S. Wyner.
Rabbi H. H. Rubenovitz offered the invocation and Judge Cohen acted as toastmaster. A message was read from Louis Kirstein, who was out of town, regretting the inability to be present and expressing to Mr. McDonald his wholehearted support for the work upon which he is engaged.
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