Rehabilitation of French Jews Depends on Revival of French Economy, Says Rothschild

The key to the economic rehabilitation of the French Jewish community lies with the measures being taken to revive French economy in general, Capt. Guy de Rothschild, one of the four-man Jewish delegation from France which arrived here yesterday, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today.

The difficulties faced by French Jews are acute, he said, but all possible efforts are being made to provide relief for those who require it. The relief organizations, he added, are in need of assistance from abroad and will continue to need such aid for a considerable length of time.

A considerable amelioration of the situation is expected, Capt. Rothschild stated, when the Government promulgates legislation covering the return of businesses seized from Jews and subsequently sold. This legislation is being drafted presently and is “eagerly awaited,” he said. Since a large section of French Jewry were businessmen, such a measure, it is expected, will make them self-sufficient and remove a part of the relief burden.

Capt. Rothschild stressed that the unity among Jewish groups which was forged during the resistance continues, and that organizations of widely varying political and social shadings are working together in the “Representative Council of French Jewry.”

He described the large and important role played by Jews in the French resistance movement, both as individual members of underground forces, or as part of specific Jewish units of the resistance forces. Jews were represented in the resistance far out of proportion to their numbers in the general population, he pointed out. In addition many Jews who left France joined the Free forces or the armies of Allied nations. Capt. Rothschild, himself, was compelled to flee France in 1941. He resided in the United States for a year, and then joined the De Gaullists in London. At present he is attached to the staff of Gen. Pierre Koenig, military governor of Paris.