The first post-war convention of the Jewish Labor Committee closed today after adopting a 1947 budget of $1,750,000 of which $250,000 are to be spent to resettle displaced Jews in Palestine.
Secretary of State George C. Marshall sent a message to the closing session pledging that the U.S. Government “will continue to urge all nations to join hands in a common effort to reach a solution” with regard to resettlement of displaced persons. “I share with you a special concern for the hundreds of thousands of thousands of people who during the war were forced to leave their homes by Nazi oppressore, or because of threats to their life or liberty on account of race, religion or political beliefs,” the Secretary of State said.
The convention sent a cable to the British Labor Party, appealing for the abrogation of the Palestine White Paper and for admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine. A resolution thanking the A.F.L. and the C.I.O. for their cooperation in rehabilitation of democratic institutions throughout the world and in fighting anti-Semitism in the U.S. was adopted by the convention following a special session this morning devoted to a discussion of ways and means of fighting anti-Semitism in this country.
R.C. Raymond, Assistant Adviser on Refugees and Displaced Persons in the State Department and Lt. Col. Robert L. Fisher, head of the DP and Refugee Division of the War Department, addressing the convention last night, declared that the United States will do its best to achieve a solution of the DP problem and to enable the immigration of displaced persons from the American-occupied zones in Europe to various countries including the United States.
They lauded the Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Labor Committee and other voluntary relief organizations for their work among the displaced Jews and stressed their hope that Congres will approve President Truman’s proposal to admit more displaced persons to the United States and that Britain will agree to the immediate admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine.
SAYS ORGANIZED JEWISH LABOR DISAPPOINTED WITH BRITAIN’S PALESTINE POLICY
The assurances by the government representatives were given following an appeal earlier by Alexander Kahn, a leader of the Jewish Labor Committee, for the admission of more displaced Jews to the United States, Canada and Palestine, Emphasizing that organized Jewish labor in America is disappointed with the Palestine policy of the British Labor Government, Mr. Kahn said that he believes that the Labor Government has been unduly frightened by the unprecedented danger that faces the peace of the world and that “it has blundered because of lack of experience and courage.”
He expressed the hope that a fair and just solution with regard to the Palestine problem “is not far off.” While emphasizing that the main work of Jewish relief and rehabilitation abroad is best carried out by the Joint Distribution Committee, he also pointed out that the work done by the Jewish Labor Committee during the war could not be done by any other group.
William Green president of the A.F.L., and David Dubinsky, president of the I.L.G.W.U., also addressed last night’s session in telephoned messages from Miami where they are attending a convention of the A.F.L. Philip Murray, president of the C.I.O., who also spoke, emphasized that the purposes of the Jewish Labor Committee are fully endorsed by organized labor in the United States.
Adolf Held was today unanimously reelected national chairman of the Committee. Others reelected were: David Dubinsky, treasurer, and Joseph Baskin, secretary. In addition, 25 vice-chairman representing A.F.L. and C.I.O. unions were unanimously elected.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
