Jews Abroad Can Claim 5,000 Buildings and Factories of Murdered Relatives in Poland

Experts of the Jewish Central Committee today estimated that there are at least 5,000 buildings, factories and other real property in Poland, valued at millions of dollars, that can be legally claimed by Jews residing abroad, whose families were wiped out by the Germans.

In making this estimate public, the Committee drew attention to the fact that (##) existing Polish laws, those claiming the property of relatives murdered by the (##) must apply no later than December 31, 1947. After that date, no claims will be accepted.

Several hundred claims have been registered with the Committee by Jews in the United States, Palestine, Australia and South Africa. However, the Committee is not (##) position to undertake any action on them, because under existing regulations, (##) applicants abroad must send in foreign currency to cover the cost of the legal (##)eedings. Local attorneys are not permitted to advance funds to press such (##), but must prove that money was sent to them by the claimants.

Jewish leaders here believe that if Jewish groups abroad pay sufficient attention to this problem, much Jewish property would be restored to the legal heirs. They are also inclined to believe that the government would react favorably to a (##)est by Jewish organizations abroad to extend the deadline for claiming the property.

A representative of the Jewish community in Stockholm arrived here this week to intervene with the Polish authorities with regard t? buildings and factories of (##)dered Jews which are claimed by relatives now residing in Sweden. This is the first direct attempt by a Jewish community abroad to claim property in Poland for Jews residing in their countries.