Relief Needs of Vienna Jews Seen Increasing Daily; More Kitchens Required

Declaring relief needs of Viennese Jews were increasing daily, Joseph C. Hyman, executive director of the Joint Distribution Committee, today reported in a statement on aid to Jews in Austria that it may be necessary to open additional free kitchens to prevent starvation of many.

Mr. Hyman said efforts were being made to secure for Austrian Jewry “the experience and facilities of the Jewish organizations in Germany that have engaged in vocational training, economic aid and the facilitation of emigration.” He added: “To the extent that contact between the german Jewish central committee of relief and reconstruction and the Vienna Jewish Community is authorized, measures leading toward retraining and the beginning of planned emigration will be undertaken.”

Conferences in Vienna between representatives of the J.D.C. and other Jewish organizations, and officials of the Vienna Jewish community, were followed, Mr. Hyman said, by emergency measures to aid penniless thousands.

“The burden of keeping the growing number of Viennese Jews from starvation is increasing daily and it may be necessary for the Gemeinde to open additional free kitchens. The present economic composition of the Jewish Community of Vienna is much worse than it was in the larger german cities. The proportion of poor people who found themselves penniless and foodless within a few days after losing their regular income is much greater. The income of the community, furthermore, has always been much smaller and now most of its sources of support are blocked. To the extent that the Jews of Austria cannot meet their needs, they will require the assistance of outside organizations.”