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Refugess Smuggle Message to UNSCOP off Prison Ship

August 21, 1947
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The Exodus refugees imprisoned aboard the Ocean Vigor, one of the three ships on which the 4,400 visaless Jews have been kept here for 20 days, today smuggled a message off the boat to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine.

Describing the conditions on board the crowded transports, the message begged: "Send some of your members to see how we live." Reiterating their refusal to land in France and warning that their threatened non-stop hanger strike may end in "grave disaster," the Jews pleaded again: "Intervene before it is too late. Please help us get away. Bring us to Palestine." A copy of the message, which was signed "The immigrants aboard the prison ship Ocean Vigor," was also sent to U.N. Secretary General Trygve Lie.

The entire medical staff of the OSE branch in Marseilles, headed by Dr. I. Mendelevitch and consisting of six physicians, four nurses and two social workers, has been incorporated into the services of the Sanitary Board of the Department Bouches-du-Rhone, which has authority over the harbor at Port-de-Bouc. The OSE personnel have taken over the medical supervision on the ships.

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