The United Hias Service opened its 1961 conference here today with reports emphasizing that events in various parts of the world have caused a sharp and unexpected increase in the migration aid given by the organization to Jewish emigrants.
The prediction that United Hias will, by the end of this year, have helped 50,000 Jewish emigrants to find new homes since 1954, was made at the opening session by James P. Rice, executive director of the organization; He also reported that the increase in the agency’s program had resulted in a 1961 deficit which might reach $500,000.
The delegates heard a message from Felix Schnyder, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, lauding the United Hias for its achievements in resettling refugees within the High Commissioner’s mandate. Edward W. Lawrence, representing the Refugee and Migration section of the United States Department of State, also praised United Hias as the leader in its field.
Charles H. Jordan, director general of the Joint Distribution Committee, stressed in his keynote address the urgency of marshalling all resources to meet current Jewish refugee problems and to prepare for the likelihood of an even greater emergency in the months ahead. Participating in the conference are also Alva Pilliod, district director of Immigration and Naturalization Services of the United States Department of Justice; John Thomas of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; and representatives of the World Council of Churches, the National Catholic Welfare Conference and the Lutheran World Federation.
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.
