Jewish refugees from Nazi oppression are not affected by the law passed by the Brazilian Government on March 11, 1942 assessing nations of the Axis Powers for damage caused to Brazilian property by acts of aggression on the part of the mother countries, it was stated here today by Lawrence Duggan, Advisor on Political Relations of the State Department.
The report by Mr, Duggan followed representations by the Inter-American Jewish Council. In his communication to Mr. James Waterman Wise, representative of the Council, Mr, Duggan made known that discretionary powers have been vested with the new Coordinator of Economic Defense in the application of this Law, The exemption of the Jews from this regulation is testimony to the fact that although technically listed as nationals of Germany, the Brazilian Government has recognized that these first victims of Nazi oppression are among the foremost friends of the democratic powers.
At the same time, it became known through Mr. Duggan that Jews in Brazil have given proof of their satisfaction with the treatment accorded them in that country. Many young Jewish refugees in Brazil applied for entry into the armed forces of Brazil immediately after Brazil’s entry into the war. At the same time, other Jewish refugees have made important financial contributions to Brazilian relief organizations.
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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.