No Mass Exodus of Jews from Italian Ports is Imminent, Leader Says

Reports that a mass exodus of Jewish refugees from Italian ports was imminent, with the relinquishment of the British Mandate over Palestine, were discounted today by Dr. Leon Bernstein, president of the Jewish Refugee organization in Italy.

“Theoretically, it would seem like an excellent idea,” Dr. Bernstein told this ##rrespondent, “but in actuality it would be highly impractical because too many difficulties stand in the way.”Earlier reports had quoted Aris Stern, Jewish Agency representative here, as predicting that “tens of thousands” of Jews would embark for the state of Israel with the ####mation today of the Jewish state. The sane reports added that ships were being ###ed for a mass embarkation at Genoa, Venice and Naples. Stern today refused to #### or deny these reports. In Jewish Agency circles here, however, the belief bean considerably exaggerated.