Plans for speeding Jewish emigration from Germany and rescuing about 50,000 Jewish children by placing them in countries willing to receive them were discussed last night at an emergency conference of Jewish refugee organizations called to consider the chaos brought into organized emigration by the renewed persecution wave in Germany.
The conference adopted no resolutions, but planned the saving of the Jewish children by placing them in Britain, France, Palestine, the Netherlands and such Scandinavian countries as would admit them. coordination of the organizations’ activities was also discussed.
The two-day meeting was called by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the HIAS-ICA Emigration Association and was attended by leading Jewish relief organizations of the United States, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and other countries neighboring Germany. Invitations were signed by Edward Oungre of the HIAS-ICA and Morris Troper and Dr. Bernhard Kahn of the J.D.C., the latter presiding.
The conference avoided political aspects of the emigration problem, even Reichsbank President Hjalmar Schacht’s Negotiations in London, but concentrated chiefly on readjustment of emigration plans of Jewish organizations, upset by the latest Nazi terrorism coupled with the billion-mark levy on the Reich Jews.
Reports from organizations in various countries established the growth of a sympathetic interest in refugees in all western European lands. As result of the growth of Nazi terrorism, some governments were reported to be adopting a more lenient attitude regarding admission of German Jews, stipulating, however, that local Jewish organizations guarantee their eventual emigration overseas.
Special camps for such transient emigrants were already in existence in Belgium, Switzerland and were contemplated in the Netherlands and France, while the possibility existed that Britain would admit several thousand Reich Jews entitled to united States visas pending receipt of such visas, thus sparing them the necessity of awaiting them in Germany.
Mr. Troper, who has just returned from London, reported on his conversations with leading American and British officials. He stressed their sincere interest in the emigration question and referred to the Earl Baldwin Fund for refugees. David Schweitzer, European vice-chairman of the J.D.C. dwelt on the emigration problem in Austria, where, he said, the authorities were determined to get rid of all Jews in the shortest time. Mr. Oungre depicted the harrowing plight of refugees before they reach their overseas destinations.
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