Jewish Property Expropriated by Egypt Estimated at $1,700,000,000

The Egyptian Government has moved to expropriate Jewish property in Egypt worth an estimated $1,700,000,000, Italian Jews expelled from Egypt declared here today upon their arrival at the port of Brindist.

The refugees, who arrived aboard a Greek vessel, numbered 120 Italian nationals 15 British and 40 French Jews. Each carried a small, suitcase with a few personal belongings and the equivalent of $40–the maximum which the Egyptian authorities had permitted each to take from his own monies.

One-third of the Italian Jews had been released from prison to be allowed to leave. They reported that hundreds of other Jews had been arrested and mistreated in prisons where they were herded together with common criminals. Shops had been closed and shopkeepers dragged off to concentration camp, they said, and even inmates of Jewish old age homes had been thrown into prison in the Egyptian Government’s anti-Jewish drive.

Unless the United Nations intervenes, the refugees declared all the Jews in Egypt will be in danger of physical harm and expulsion. They urged the British, French, Italian and Greek Governments to intervene with Egypt to prevent the seizure of private Jewish assets. Reception and relief activities for the new waves of refugees has been organized by the United Jewish Community here and the Joint Distribution Committee.