International Conference Asks Governments to Permit Emigration

A resolution calling on all governments to assist in the re-union of separated families by permitting emigration of relatives — an issue of basic importance to Israel — was adopted unanimously today at the Sixth International Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations on Migration currently meeting here.

The resolution addressed an “urgent appeal to the governments concerned,” asking them to assist in the “reconstitution of such families in the country of their choice, thus removing a cause of many tragic situations.”

The delegates heard a sharp criticism of the failure of the Rumanian Government to permit emigration in the interests of such family re-unions. Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig of the World Jewish Congress told the delegates that “thousands of Jews are vainly seeking permission to leave Rumania and join close relatives abroad. ” He said the Rumanian Government had halted all emigration “from political motives alone. “

(In Tel Aviv, a demand that the Rumanian Government permit re-union of families by allowing emigration to Israel was presented today by a delegation of Rumanian Jews to Dr. Petro Manu, the new Rumanian Minister to Israel. Dr. Manu promised to transmit the request to his government.)

Tribute was paid at the conference to the International Red Cross for its management of the International Tracing Service at Arolsen. In his praise, Dr. Lev Zelmanowitz, executive director of the World Union of OSE, stressed the importance of the tracing service to migrants who are claimants for West German compensation benefits.

He urged all voluntary organizations to turn over to the tracing service all relevant documentation of the war and postwar years, commenting there was no point in withholding such material as “show pieces” for archives when victims of war and Nazi persecution might urgently need evidence they contained.