Representatives of Jewish Organizations Discuss Post-war Problems in Geneva

Representatives of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, of the World Jewish Congress and of the World Orthodox Agudath Israel are now holding conference here at which post-war Jewish problems are being discussed, including the problem of Jewish emigration after the war as well as Palestine. A general agreement between the representatives of the three groups is expected. This in turn will have to be ratified by each of the organizations.

(A study of the Jewish situation in Nazi-controlled countries made by neutral observers reaching this country today, places at approximately 4,000,000, as the number of Jews who have been massacred in various countries under Nazi control. This is the largest figure of dead in this war next to, perhaps, the number of Russian soldiers and civilians killed on the Russo-German front. Hitherto the general impression had been that approximately 2,000,000 Jews had been exterminated by the Nazis and their satellites.)

Leaders of Jewish organizations here are closely watching the developments in Italy with a view to obtaining the evacuation of thousands of Jews from Italian-administered Balkan territories when the Italian armies withdraw from these territories. The Jewish situation in Bulgaria is also being closely watched in connection with possible changes in the Bulgarian regime.

A report reaching here today from Sofia states that the Bulgarian Commissioner for Jewish Affairs, Belov, announced that though conversion of Jews to Christianity is not forbidden by law in Bulgaria, the status of Jews baptised since 1941 will not be changed. Such converts, the Commissar said, will be considered as Jews and treated as such under the existing anti-Jewish laws. Commissar Belov made his announcement in connection with a decision adopted this week by the Bulgarian Synod urging priests to make no difficulties for Jews who wish to join the Christian church and to help them change their names.

A repot reaching here from Bucharest confirms that under a law of March, 10, 1943, providing for a special status for Jews who have rendered eminent services to the country, the Rumanian authorities have granted five Jews equal status with “Aryan” Rumanians. The five Jews are the lawyer Rosenthal, who took part in the peace conference of Trianon as legal councillor in 1919; the university professors Aurel Candrea and Sanielevici, Constantin Hiott, a member of an old shipping family, and Alexander Cerban. It is the first time that the new law has been applied. An explanatory statement points out that these five men by their attitude had “linked themselves with the Rumanian national body.”