The National Committee Against persecution of the Jews, of which Supreme Court justice Frank Murphy is chairman, today endorsed the demand for the establishment of “free ports” in the United states as temporary havens for Jews who can be rescued from occupied Europe.
“If the free port idea has been found advantageous by business men in the transport of articles of commerce, I am sure that application of this principle to the transport of refugees from the Nazi terror will be found equally helpful,” justice Murphy states, “Surely we have not become so calloused to human suffering, so inured to brutality and bestiality that we can stand idly by and refuse to initiate this simple plan which will save thousands of human lives and in the bargain not cost the taxpayers of our country a cent,” he continued.
The National committee is an organization of non-Jews formed several months ago to arouse public indignation against the persecution of Jews in German-occupied countries and to combat the rise of racial and religious bigotry within the united states. Among those associated with Justice Murphy on the Committee are Vice-president Henry A. Wallace, Wendell L. Willkie, Eric A. Johnston, Governor Leverett Saltonstall of Mess, Norman M. little, Assistant U.S. Attorney General and other important personalities.
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