U.S. Jewish Leaders Who Toured Dp Camps Praise Army, Unrra; Warn Crisis Approaching

The U.S. Army and UNRRA are doing a conscientious job in caring for the displaced persons in Germany, but conditions will become extremely critical unless the refugees are resettled in the shortest possible time, the five spokesmen for leading Jewish organizations declared here today upon their return from Germany where they conferred with Gen. Joseph T, McNarney, American commander, and members of his staff.

The Jewish leaders visited five camps for displaced Jews in the company of Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein, Gen. McNarney’s advisor on Jewish affairs, and conferred with a delegation from the Jewish Central Committee of Germany. They are Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and Dr. Nahum Goldmann of the World Jewish Congress, Jacob Blaustein and Judge Philip Forman of the American Jewish Committee, and I. Kenen of the American Jewish Conference.

In a joint statement issued upon their arrival at Paris, the five declared that “we believe the Army and UNRRA must be commended for their conscientious effort to solve the problems of displaced persons in the face of an emergency situation presenting unprecedented problems.”

The statement emphasized, however, that “it is imperative that action be taken without delay to re-settle these victims of persecution in Palestine where so many of them want to go, and elsewhere including the United States. Their hope for a permanent home has been long deferred. It is a tribute to the displaced persons that they maintained high morale and great courage in the face of their deep disappointment. They must be allowed to start a normal life at the earliest possible moment,” the statement concluded.