United Jewish Campaign Urges Immediate Payment of Pledges Toward “overseas Chest”

Continuance of the relief and reconstruction work maintained in Europe by the efforts of American Jewry is dependent on the immediate collection of funds thus far pledged in the United Jewish Campaign, to raise a $25,000,000 “overseas chest.”

The urgent need of realizing the funds pledged is set forth in a message issued by David A. Brown, national chairman of the United Jewish Campaign, to regional, state, and local officers of the national campaign organization. The message, made public yesterday through the national headquarters of the United Jewish Campaign in New York, declares that unless the funds already pledged are promptly turned into cash, to be made available for the overseas budget appropriations fixed for the coming months, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee faces certain curtailment and possible complete suspension of its work in the near future.

“No greater tragedy could befall the Jews of Europe at this time, Mr. Brown declared. “Much of our work must cease, and all will be curtailed, unless the funds already pledged in the many campaigns conducted throughout America are quickly turned into cash.”

Over 2,000 communities in every part of the United States and Canada have already subscribed their local contributions to the $25,000,000 fund, in drives held through the past year. With numbers of states already reported “over the top” in the raising of their quotas, the south and middle west have fully completed their state allocations, the total thus far pledged to the fund being $20,000,000. Of this, within the eight month period in which the majority of campaigns have been under way, approximately six and a half million dollars has been collected, leaving nearly fourteen million dollars outstanding.

Mr. Brown’s message is an urgent plea for payment of these pledges with the utmost promptness possible, all available borrowed means of the Joint Distribution Committee being now exhausted. The full text of his letter was as follows:

“Much of our work abroad must cease, and all will be curtailed-unless the funds already pledged in the many campaigns conducted throughout America, are quickly turned into cash. At a Joint Distribution Committee meeting held at the home of Colonel Herbert H. Lehman, Monday evening, March 14, 1927, it was made coldly clear that unless we can speed up our collection machinery, we shall be compelled to stop many of our activities overseas and to curtail others.

“I can conceive of no greater tragedy that could befall the Jews of Europe at this time. They have been buoyed up by the hope that the work in which we are engaged to help them tide over the fearful crisis of their situation would be carried on as originally planned. They look forward to our standing by, and, like helpless children, are dependent absolutely upon us. The Jews of America, have assumed this great responsibility-an inescapable one. It would be tragic for us not to carry out our program as originally planned. The Jews of this country have pledged many, many millions-pledges that they fully intend to pay. But through thoughtlessness or carelessness, many have not as yet done so. We need quickly several millions of dollars to meet the budget requirements between March 15 and May 31, 1927. There has been collected, since the beginning of the United Jewish Campaign, approximately six and one half millions of dollars. There is outstanding at the present date, nearly fourteen millions of dollars. Many sections of the country have done remarkably well in remitting the amounts pledged. Other sections have done poorly.

“This is a plea for every community to make a special effort, immediately, to collect as large a sum of money as possible, and to send it in to headquarters at once, so that we may be free from constant fear that the essential work-essential relief and reconstructive work, essential cultural work-can go on without interruption.

“The borrowing capacity of the Joint Distribution Committee has been stretched to the limit. From now on we must depend upon the payment of pledges for the continuance of our work. Again I ask those who have played such a big part in making our effort a successful one, to give just a little extra of themselves at this time, so that the necessary money can be sent to Europe to carry on our great humanitarian effort.

“I ask all of those who have pledged and who have not as yet paid the portion due at the present time, to send their checks to their respective treasurers at once. I ask even those who have paid the portion due, should there be a balance still owing on their pledges to send on what they can at once.

“It is impossible for me to conceive of any letdown in our work for I believe firmly that the Jews of America at this time, as they have at every other time, will meet their full responsibility. I am asking you to see that this message reaches every subscriber in your community.”