"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 F 1 A Robinson classic—distinctive Regency sofa "custom-built" in our own shop. 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