U.S. Army headquarters here today released a statement explaining the peaceful demonstration of 35,000 displaced Jews in seventeen camps throughout the American zone, and emphasized the fact that all rally’s were in the nature of mourning ceremonies and that no violence had occurred. The statement said.
“Following the death of a displaced person at Stuttgart on Thursday, March 28, Jewish displaced persons throughout the U.S. zone made preparations to hold tradition-mourning ceremonies, on the seventh day following the death, in the DP centers and somewhere.
“The U.S. Army and UNRRA were advised of the preparations by representatives the Central Jewish Committee of Bavaria on Wednesday, April 3, and instructions were issued through U.S. military and UNRRA channels that ceremonies of this character could be permitted within the camp areas, but that provisions contained in military government Ordnance Number 1, forbidding public meetings, would not be lifted outside each areas.
“Reports show that there were held on Thursday, April 4, in Jewish displaced persons camps throughout the U.S. zone, orderly mourning ceremonies within camp areas. Several areas, principally Munich and Stuttgart, gatherings of Jewish displaced person outside camp areas commenced pursuant to preliminary preparations previously made, these gatherings dissolved without any disorder or incident upon being advised that authority had been given for this purpose.”
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