Leaders of Jewish Federations Urge Entry of Refugees into U.S. on Unused Quotas

The entry of a maximum number of European refugees and displaced persons to the United States “by permitting them to use the unused reservoir of quotas which have accumulated from all countries in the past ten years,” was urged in a resolution adopted here at a two-day conference of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, attended by delegates from twenty Jewish communities composing the New England Region of the Council.

“Now, more than ever before, the United States can fill its great and traditional role as a haven for the oppressed and can, at the same time, enrich the economic and cultural well-being of this country and render a critically needed humanitarian service,” the delegates declared in their resolution which was sent to President Truman, Secretary of State Byrnes, and to the New England members of Congress.

In another resolution the conference urged “that the United States use all the influence and power at its command to bring about the immediate entry of the fullest number of Jewish refugees and displaced persons which Palestine can absorb, thereby implementing promptly the policies already enunciated by the President, the State Department, and the Congress of the United States.”

The conference endorsed the Inter-City Committee’s welfare fund plan of partnership whereby the Jewish welfare funds of the country would select one-third of the membership of the administrative and executive committees of a permanent United Jewish Appeal, including direct representation of each region of the Council. The delegates also urged “that a more intensive effort be made to organize communities still without a central Jewish agency, and to secure the affiliation of such communities with the Council for a continuing and mutually helpful cooperation.”

The delegates elected George W. Farber of Worcester president of the Region, and the following four, vice-presidents; Samuel Markell of Boston; Bernard P. Kopkind of New Haven; Raphael Mutterperl of New Bedford; and Bernard H. Trager of Bridgeport. Eli A. Cohen of Lynn was elected finance chairman, and Isaac Seligson of Boston, secretary.

The conference heard addresses by Dr. Salo W. Baron, professor of Jewish History at Columbia University; Stanley C. Myers of Miami, national president of the Council; Henry Montor, executive vice-chairman of the United Jewish Appeal; Philip Bernstein, field service director of the Council; Bernard Gottlieb, executive director of the Hartford Jewish Federation; Arnold Gurin, budget research director of the Council; and Isaac Franck, executive director of the Brooklyn Jewish Community Council.