United Hias Will Resettle More Than 6,300 Refugees and Migrants This Year

The United Hias Service, an agency which aids Jewish immigrants the world over, plans to resettle more than 6,300 Jewish refugees and migrants in 1969, according to Gaynor I. Jacobson, executive vice president. Mr. Jacobson reported on Hias’ activities at its 85th annual meeting here. He said the refugees to be resettled include some 1,800 from Poland, 650 from Czechoslovakia, 1,000 from Morocco, 800 from Tunisia and 850 from Middle East countries. Mr. Jacobson said “more than 2,000 other refugees were helped by our agency to find new homes in Canada, 1,896 in Western Europe, 225 in Latin America and 181 in Australia.” He urged the U.S. Government “in line with its traditional policy of humanitarian concern, to waive the labor certification provision of our immigration law in certain instances to facilitate USSR family reunion.” Carlos L. Israels, president of the organization, reported that during the past year it had aided more than 56,000 Jewish men, women and children including 6,423 who were helped to resettle in Western countries.

A message of greeting from President Richard M. Nixon was conveyed to Hias by Ambassador Graham Martin, special assistant to the Secretary of State. “The need to provide rescue and resettlement assistance to Jewish refugees and migrants throughout the world is more pressing than ever, and your reputation is a fitting mandate for your continuing contribution to a challenge that concerns us all,” the message said. “The scope of your accomplishments is best measured by the new hope and opportunity you have brought into the lives of the millions who have benefited from your efforts.”