U.S. Law Made Entry of “fair Number” of Displaced Jews Impossible, Commissioner Says

The first United States-bound shipload of displaced persons will be a “showcase enterprise” with a balance representation of religions, nationalities, trades and professions, Ugo Carusi, U.S. Commissioner for Displaced Persons, told correspondents today.

He said he could give no figures as to the number of Jews, Catholics and others in this maritime “showcase,” but added that most of the passengers represent backlog cases and have relatives in the United States. “Most of the passengers,” he explained, “are destined for the northeastern section of the United States.”

Carusi implied that the DP law enacted last year by Congress discriminated against the Jews in saying that under its provisions it was impossible to obtain entry for a “fair number” of Jewish DP’s. He pointed out that 20 percent of the total DP population is Jewish but that less than 20 percent of them are eligible under the Act, or fewer than four percent of the total DP’s.

As State Department visas were issued, he said, lists of the names would be sent to the F.B.I. and any check deemed necessary would usually be made in the United States, since granting of the visa is the last step before embarking. Thus, he added, any F.B.I. investigation should not prove to be any delaying factor. Checking here for security purposes is done by the Army Counter-Intelligence Corps.

International Refugee Organization headquarters here was informed today that the departure of the displaced persons for the United States had again been postponed from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21. Port authorities at Bremerhaven reported that the Army transport General Black, now on route to Germany from Rio de Janeiro, has been severely battered by Atlantic storms, delaying the ship’s arrival at Bremerhaven until Oct. 18 and requiring three days thereafter for repairs.