Truman Calls American People to Help Homeless in Europe and to Fight Prejudice

President Truman called upon the American people to unite and work together to alleviate the suffering of the homeless peoples of Europe, in a message to the delegates attending the 59th annual convention of the Independent Order B’rith Abraham which opened here today. The President’s message also urged the people of the United States to fight prejudice, disunity and other ills besetting the “troubled world.”

The convention was opened by Grand Master Harold O.N. Frankel, who, addressing the 750 delegates representing 400 lodges from all over the country, demanded that the United Nations promulgate an International Bill of Human Rights to outlaw discrimination against any minority groups. He also urged that Palestine be made a National Homeland for Jews and asked that all red-tape be eliminated and the 100,000 Jews be permitted to enter the Holy Land without delay.

James G. McDonald, a member of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine, who also spoke, warned that the continued delay in admitting the 100,000 Jews to Palestine, as recommended by the inquiry committee, might have serious repercussions in the camps for displaced Jews and perhaps cause “even more serious difficulties in Palestine.

“The American Army, under whose charge most of these Jewish refugees in Germany are, is most anxious that the camps be emptied at once and is proportionately ready to aid in emptying them,” McDonald said. “The refugees themselves ask only that they be permitted to go to Palestine and there to work on the land and build new lives for themselves and their children. The economic and financial resources essential to effect such a vast transfer to and integration in a new country can, I am convinced, be mobilized and made available if only the political hurdles are removed. The Arab opposition in Palestine is impressive only to those who do not know of the inherent weakness of the local Arab political leadership and of the deep family and other cleavages which divide these leaders.”

WANTS AMERICAN AND BRITISH CREDITS FOR SETTLING OF DISPLACED JEWS

Emphasizing that “immediate immigration and change of the land regulations like all the other recommendations in the committee’s report can be carried out without injury to the legitimate interests of the Arab people in Palestine,” McDonald continued: “I do not believe that the British and American Governments are willfully delaying the exchange of views essential to their full cooperation. This is not to say that the responsibilities of the United States Government are the same or equal to those of the British Government. The latter, of course, as the mandatory power, has the direct responsibility for immigration and land policies and for the maintenance of peace and order in Palestine. Nonetheless, Great Britain’s ability in part and, as Prime Minister Attles underlined in his statement, its willingness to adopt the committee’s recommendations will depend upon our Government’s cooperation.”

Reviewing the Jewish situation in Europe and in Palestine, McDonald said: “The needs in Europe of Jewish displaced persons and their opportunities in Palestine are two intimately interrelated parts of the same problem. To meet the needs and to open up the opportunities will require much more than the $100,000,000 sought this year by the United Jewish Appeal. The required additional funds – in the form of credits, services and supplies – are the logical responsibilities of governments, particularly the American and British Governments. It is my hope that as part of a comprehensive program private and governmental – Washington and London can be persuaded to play their appropriate role.”