All possible aid to Israel by the American Jewish Committee was pledged today by Herbert B. Ehrmann, newly elected president of the organization, at a press conference held at the Harmonie Club here. However, Mr. Ehrmann added, the American Jewish Committee does not intend to participate in any projected advisory committee for the Jewish Agency.
The new president said that his organization is now engaged in long-range plans to eradicate anti-Semitism in the United States. He noted that organized anti-Semitism has lost ground in this country, but that individual hate mongers are still active in disseminating anti-Jewish propaganda. The activities of these individuals, he said, are being watched by the American Jewish Committee.
Mr. Ehrmann reviewed the studies made by the American Jewish Committee in various countries with regard to the position of the Jews there. He said that, with the exception of Germany, there is no anti-Semitism existing today in any of the West European countries. The Jews in these lands, he reported, are seeking to strengthen their Jewish communal life, and are being aided in this respect by the American Jewish Committee. In Germany, he stated, anti-Semitic elements are now becoming more and more arrogant, but the West German Government is taking all measures possible to curb their activities.
Touching upon the situation of the Jews in Morocco and Tunisia, Mr. Ehrmann revealed that he addressed a letter to the Moroccan Government, asking it to permit the emigration from Morocco of those Jews who wish to emigrate. He said that the governments of Morocco and Tunisia are friendly to their Jewish citizens but insist on their “integration” by interfering into the activities of Jewish institutions. The American Jewish Committee, he reported, has now asked these North African governments to let the Jews maintain their traditional life.
Mr. Ehrmann expressed the belief that the talk held by leaders of the American Jewish Committee with Soviet Deputy Premier Mikoyan during the latter’s recent visit in the United States has prevented the mass transfer of Jews in the Soviet Union to Biro-Bidjan. Plans for such a “transfer” were known to have been under discussion in the ranks of the Soviet Government, he stated.
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