"I idp,JuIyg8, 1944
Nazis Want Blockade Lifted
In Offer to Free 400,000
JTA Correspondent Reveals Details of Gestapo Plan to
Barter Lives of Hungarian Jews; Proposal Turned
Down at Allied Parley in Instanbul
By VICTOR M. BIENSTOCK
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Correspondent)
ROME, (JTA)—A brazen blackmail attempt by the
Gestapo to barter the lives of 400,000 Jews in Hungary for re-
laxation of the Allied blockade of occupied Europe was made
at Istanbul last month and received extensive consideration
by the British and American governments, it can be • re-
vealed now.
Details of the attempt were
divulged to this correspondent
at that time in confidence, with
the warning that publication then
would be harmful. Since the
substance of the story has been
published, the writer feels free
to fill in hitherto undisclosed and
important details. The full story,
of course, cannot be told until
after Germany's defeat and the
Nazi motives for the strange of-
fer, which they must have
known would never be accepted,
may never be learned..
Family Held as Hostages
The offer was carried to Instan-
bul from Budapest by two men,
one of whom was a reputable
Jew whose family had been
taken as hostages to ensure his
return when the mission was
completed. He is now being held
on British territory: They ar-
rived at Istanbul early in June
to establish contact with refugee
rescue organizations, to which
they disclosed the Gestapo pro-
posals.
The proposal contained the
warning that if it was not ac-
cepted the deportation and ex-
termination of Jews would be ac-
celerated. It was communicated
to the Allied authorities and was
the subject of a series of con-
ferences in Cairo in the middle
of June, when detailed reports
went to the British Foreign Of-
fice and the State Department.
Representatives of the U. S. War
Refugee Board, American Jewish
relief organizations and the Jew-
ish Agency for Palestine partici-
pated in the Cairo discussions
with Lord Moyne, British Resi-
dent Minister of State in the Mid-
dle East, and other British of-
ficials.
Hirschmann, Shertok Participate
Ira A. Hirschmann, of New
York, vvho had just recently re-
turned to Istanbul after report-
ing to the State Department on
refugee work in Turkey, flew
back to Cairo to confer with
Lord Moyne and British Middle
East authorities and returned to
Istanbul after a two-day stay.
Moshe Shertok, political sec-
retary of the Jewish Agency, to
whom the proposals had been
communicated from Istanbul,
came to Cairo and conferred with
Lord Moyne. Then, on agree-
ment with the British authorities,
Shertok flew to London on June
25 to discuss the question with
the Foreign Office.
It was never considered, either
in Cairo or Istanbul, that there
was any possibility that the Nazi
offer would be accepted since
the Allies never could agree to
weaken the blockade and since
there was no assurance that the
Germans would keep their end
of the bargain.
portation of Jews from Hungary;
that the International Red Cross
will be permitted to provide re-
lief for Jews interned in concen-
tration camps or confined in
ghettos, to arrange for the evac-
uation of Jewish children under
10 who have obtained entry visas
to neutral countries overseas, and
of all Jews with Palestine immi-
gration certificates.
80,000 Jewish Children
Affected by Horthy Plan
GENEVA, (JTA)—About 80,-
000 children would be affected by
the offer of Hungarian Regent
Admiral Horthy to permit the
emigration of Jewish children
under the supervision of the In-
ternational Red Cross, it is learn-.
ed here. The International Peace
office this week addressed a let-
ter to the entire diplomatic corps
in Switzerland urging action by
all nations to save the Jews of
Hungary from total annihilation.
Interned American Jews
Killed During Allied Raids
ZURICH, (JTA)—Eighty-nine
American Jews who had been in-
terned in Hungary since the out-
break of the war were killed
during recent Allied bombings of
Budapest, according to the Buda-
pest newspaper Fueggetlenseg,
official organ of the pro-Nazi
Sztojay government.
The paper claims that the Jews
recently were moved from an in-
ternment camp near a railroad
station at the request of the cen-
tral Jewish council which was
charged with securing food and
other supplies for the Americans.
It has been the expressed policy
of the Hungarian Government,
however, to move Jews to areas
close to military targets and to
deny them access to air-raid
shelters.
American Jewish
Committee Chapter
In Philadelphia
First_ Community to Form
Unit in 38-Year History
of Organization
PHILADELPHIA — The first
community chapter in the 38-
year history of the American
Jewish Committee was organ-
ized here with more than 100
members.
Forerunner of chapters to be
created in many communities
throug. .out the U. S., in accord-
ance with the changed by-laws
of the organization, the Ameri-
can Jewish Committee chapter
in Philadelphia will be headed
by Judge Charles Klein. Other
officers are: Mrs. Racie Adler,
widow of the late Dr. Cyrus
Adler, for years president of the
American Jewish Committee,
vice-chairman; Emanuel Fried-
man, secretary; Abram S. Berg,
Jr., treasurer.
The chapter's organizing com-
mittee consisted of Judge Horace
Stern, national vice-president of
the American Jewish Commit-
tee, who served as temporary
chairman; Al Paul Lefton, Al-
bert H. Leiberman, Bernard G.
Segal, Mr. Berg and Judge Klein.
Explaining the purposes and
functions of the new chapters,
Judge Joseph M. Proskauer,
president of the American Jew-
ish Committee, said: "The chap-
ters will play an increasingly
important role in Jewish life.
Through chapter membership
we are providing the means
through which those who be-
lieve in our program may have
the opportunity of taking part
in our' work and helping to form
decisions on national policy."
Senator Lucas to Ask
Interfaith War Shrine
CHICAGO, (JTA) — Plans for
the erection of a shrine at Wash-
ington symbolizing the contribu-
tion to America of Protestant,
Catholic and Jewish heroes,
moved a step nearer realization
when Senator Scott W. Lucas an-
nounced that he would present a
resolution in. the U. S. Senate
sponsoring the project.
BUY AN EXTRA BONDI
1111111•1111111111111111•111111111111
Mrs. Zena Ehrlich Dies
at 90
Pioneer Leader in Detroit
For Jewish National Fund
Recognized as JNF Representative Here Long Before
Council Was Organized; Was Symbol of Devotion
to Jewish Causes for Over a Generation
Mrs. Zena Ehrlich, one of the
most interesting and best known
Jewish women in Detroit, a pio-
neer leader in the Jewish Na-
tional Fund, died on Sunday at
the age of 90, at her home, 2675
Rochester.-
Funeral services were held
Monday afternoon at Clover Hill
Park Cemetery. Rabbi Leizer
Levine and Cantor J. H. Sonen-
klar officiated.
Mother of the late Joseph H.
Ehrlich, one of Detroit's out-
standing leaders and founder of
the J. H. Ehrlich Jewelry Co.,
she is survived by two other
sons, Moe and Harry, who are
also in the jewelry business; five
grandchildren and six great-'
grandchildren.
JNF Representative
Long before the Jewish Na-
tional Fund Council was organ-
ized in Detroit, Mrs. Ehrlich was
the recognized representative of
the Palestine land - redemption
movement in Detroit. Working
alone, she devoted her entire
time, for many years, to clearing
the Blue and White Boxes of the
Jewish National Fund. Some of
the best returns for the Zionist
land-redemption agency, through
these boxes, were secured by her.
Zionist homes knew that Zena
Ehrlich was the synonym for the
JNF Blue and White Box. Until
the formation of the Jewish Na-
tional Fund Council, no one was
permitted to touch these boxes.
When the Council was formed,
she worked with other volun-
teers for the JNF and helped in
other Zionist projects.
Came Here In 1898
Born in Russia, she came to
Detroit in 1898. For more than
a generation she was the symbol
of devotion to Jewish causes. She
attended services regularly at the
Shaarey Zedek and did not limit
her worship to the Sabbath and
holidays but often atended the
daily services.
Only her poor health caused
her to abandon JNF work, but
for a number of years some box
holders insisted that she alone
could clear their boxes, and she
was driven to many homes to
continue her life's work.
Mrs. Ehrlich showed great
pride in the fact that her son,
the late Joseph H. Ehrlich, and
her daughter-in-law, the former
Dora Buchhalter, were among
the best known Zionist leaders
in the country. She felt that her
activities were being carried on
by Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Ehrlich
and that a family tradition is
being perpetuated with great de-
votion and loyalty.
Irgun Threatens
More Terrorism;
Admits Bombing
TEL AVIV (JTA)—The Irgun
Zvai Leumi, outlawed Jewish
terrorist organization, posted pla-
cards throughout the city during.
the night assuming responsibil-
ity for the bombing of Jerusalem
district police headquarters last
Friday, in which one policeman
was killed and several seriously
inj ured.
The posters charged that the
police were torturing captured
terrorists and said that the bomb-
ings and other terroristic activ-
ities will continue until the Pal-
estine Government surrenders
control of immigration to the
Jews.
Police headquarters in Jeru-
salem announced that many ar-
rests have been made, but the
announcement did not _ give any
further details.
BUY MORE WAR BONDS
■ 11,
Sweden Willing to Aid
Hungarian Jews
STOCKHOLM, (JTA) — The
Swedish radio and press com-
menting this week on the report-
ed Hungarian offer to the Red
Cross to release certain categor-
ies of Jews states that Sweden
is ready to do everything pos-
sible to assist the endangered
Jews. The Swedish radio de-
clared that "if Sweden can con-
tribute to the humane solution
of the problem, we certainly will
not hesitate."
Stockholm newspapers say that
no more than 250,000 Jews have
been deported from Hungary,
1 "Every Day is
I Flag Day"
I
Says Proposal Aimed
At Embarrassing Allies
,S
LONDON, (JTA)—The British I
press this week denounces the
German offer to exchange the
400,000 Jews remaining in Hun-
gary for non-military supplies as
All Sizes
an attempt by the Nazis to em-
In Stock
barrass the Allies with an offer
that they knew would not be ac-
cepted.
The London newspapers point
out that the only way to save
the Jews is a speedy victory, and,
to $47.50
at the same time, urge Hun-
garian farmers, railwaymen and
Special Flags
Made to Order
others to hide Jews to save them
4
from deportation.
1
ka
.,:,
1
1
"
..
ItifIT,C0
1
If It's Made of Canvas
National Makes It!
Hungarian Government
• Waterproof Covers
Halts Deportations
•
Shower Curtains
.c.4.... :
• Aisle Cloths
LONDON, (Palcor) — Hun- I
• Drop Cloths
gary has bowed to interna-
• Tarpaul i n s
.Awnings
tional protests against her de-
-CANYAS
• Canopies
portation of Jews to death camps I
• Tents
in Poland, it is reported from I PRODUCTS
• Bags
Geneva. The International Red
NATIONAL TENT & AWNING CO.
Cross has been officially inform-
2150 BAGLEY
CH. 7oso.
ed by the Hungarian Government
that there will be no further de-
.
Page Five
THE 'JEWISH NEWS
1
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