Emphasizing that millions of Jews were exterminated by the Nazis in death camps in Poland, Polish delegate Jozef Winiewicz, today told the United Nations Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee that displaced Jews should not be forced to return to their native lands against their will.
“For them,” he said, “the return will be difficult. We must find new homes for them.” He pointed out that his government devotes great attention to the rehabilitation of the Jews who wish to remain in Poland.
The Polish delegate spoke during a discussion of the refugee problem. The Committee also heard a statement from the Egyptian delegate, Saad Kamel, briefly reiterating the Arab stand taken at the plenary session and declaring that the proposed International Refugee Organization should ensure prompt repatriation of refugees to their countries of origin. He also demanded that resettlement of displaced persons should not be imposed upon a sovereign state against the wishes of the native population.
The majority of the speakers emphasized the urgency of creating the International Refugee Organization, but the Australian delegate, A.S. Watt, wanted the refugee problem to be handled by a special commission of the U.N. General Assembly rather than by a new agency like the IRO. He intimated that Australia will not support the IRO if it is established.
The General Assembly session which was scheduled to have taken place today, and at which the question of racial persecution was to come up for discussion, was postponed until tomorrow.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
