In reply to charges made against the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of America, Mr. John L. Bernstein, the president, issued a statement in which a copy of this letter dated Dec. 20, 1924, to Mr. Jacob Marinoff, editor of the “Kundes” is reproduced. Mr. Bernstein’s statement reads as follows:
To the editor of the “Kundes”: “Under the headline, ‘We Want to Know’ you made certain assertions and insinuations against the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, its directors and representatives abroad. In order to prove to the Jewish public that these assertions and insinuations have no foundation and in order to give you the ‘knowledge’ which you seek, we propose that you and a committee of responsible persons selected by you make a thorough and complete investigation of all the affairs and documents of the Hias. We are prepared to grant to such a committee complete access to all books, papers, protocols, reports, letters and other documents and any information which may be required. We propose that such a committee should also engage an accountant to make a thorough and complete investigation of the finances of the Hias for the entire period or any part of the time the Hias has entire in existence.
“‘We are very anxious for such a committee to commence its investigation immediately.
“John L. Bernstein, President.”
“It is needless to say that if the one who brought the charges would be concerned with finding the truth, he could have done it very easily before making public his charges and insinuations. An inquiry at the Hias would have convinced him that there is not a word of truth in his assertions. Under the circumstances, there is little surprise at the fact that he rejected the proposal of the Hias to make an investigation with a committee selected by him. He does not desire the truth. All he wants is lies and libel.
“It is beneath the dignity of the men who are at the head of the Hias, who have devoted their best years and powers to serving the cause of the Jewish wanderers to defend themselves against unfounded assertions and insinuations. The Hias has an excellent record of work; it has too much love, respect and confidence from the Jewish people all over the world to be afraid of insinuations made against it. While the Hias does not want to have anything to do with the man who has refused to verify his statement, it does not desire the slightest suspicion to remain on anyone in the administration. (Continued on Page 8)
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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.
