The British press today denounces the German offer to exchange the 400,000 Jews remaining in Hungary for non-military supplies as an attempt by the Nazis to embarrass the Allies with an offer that they knew would not be accepted.
The London newspapers point out that the only way to save the Jews is a speedy victory, and, at the same time, urge Hungarian farmers, railway men and others to hide Jews to save them from deportation.
Meanwhile, Jewish organizations here today confirmed reports that they are exploring the possibility of having Allied and neutral nations confer protective citizenship on Hungarian Jews to save them from deportation and death.
(A high official of the State Department said today that the Department was unaware of any proposal to confer protective citizenship on the Jews of Hungary. He declined to comment on the possibility that such action may be taken in the future.
The Manchester Guardian discloses that the German offer was made by a high ranking Gestapo officer, who arrived in Istanbul accompanied by a member of the Budapest Jewish community council, who was forced to approach Jewish relief groups with the Nazi proposal.
The Guardian also reveals that the Pope has made interventions in Budapest and possibly in Berlin in behalf of the Hungarian Jews. It adds that London has no confirmation of the reported offer by Admiral Horthy to allow the International Red Cross to evacuate all Jewish children under 10, and all adults possessing Palestine visas, but that, assuming the report is accurate, it is doubtful that Horthy could carry our his promise.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
