-
woresoser.....e.
Sen. Vandenberg Opens Door
For Further Action to Aid DP's
Strong Appeals for Stratton Bill . Made at Congress'
Final Hearings; 'Significance of Statue of Liberty'
Emphasized by Secretary of State Marshall
mony of Rabbi Bernstein, adviser
Special Correspondence
on Jewish affairs to General Clay
to The *newish News -
WASHINGTON — Hearings on in Germany, alleged that 150,000
The Stratton Bill to admit 400,- Jewish DPs entered the American
000 DPs to the U. S. during the zone since the war, primarily
from Russia. Marshall said they
next four years
came largely from Poland. Gos-
have ended. The
set
said he had been told that at
legislative jam 4 a
least half of the high government
h a s prevented
officials of Poland are Jews, that
action either in
"Russian Jews are now running
the House, on
Poland." Marshall said he had no
t h e Stratton
information to this effect.
measure, or in
Gosset asserted that 75 per cent
the Senate on
of the visas issued under the
the bill intro-
President's directive of last De-
duced by Sen-
cember, giving immigration pris
ator Homer Fer-
ority to DPs, have been allocated
guson of Michi-
to Jewish persons, although they
Sen. Van
gan.
Senator Vandenberg said there constitute only 20 per cent of the
is mutual agreement that the DPs.
Rep. Louis Graham, Republican
situation requires "constructive
action by Congress," but that "it of Pennsylvania, expressed con-
was mutually recognized that cern over Section 3 of the bill
there are extreme legislative dif- which gives priority to relatives
ficulties making any conclusive of American citizens or of per-
action at the present session all sons who served in the armed
but impossible." forces. He asked Marshall wheth-
The keen interest shown in er there was cause for alarm in
the problem by Michigan's 'senior that this provision might give
senator is indicated by his state- special privilege to any racial
ment that the President and Con- group. Marshall immediately re-
gressional leaders would further plied "no". He contended, how-
discuss the subject in an effort ever, that it is "more sensible"
to find "a helpful procedure for for DPs having relatives in the
U. S. to come here than to go,
the future."
for example, to France, where
Bill Gets Strong Support
Secretary of State George C. they have none, and vice versa.
Rep. Cellar asked the Secretary
Marshall and former Secretary of
War Robert P. Patterson strongly if he had confidence in Rabbi
urged passage of the Stratton Bill. Bernstein, and Marshall replied
The Cabinet members testified "yes."
Former Secretary Patterson
before the full Judiciary Corn-
mittee, which augmented the argued for the bill on the grounds
hearing of the Sub-committee on of humanity, economy for the
U. S., the contribution to be re-
Immigration.
Secretary Marshall, emphasiz- ceived from the skills of the DPs,
ing the importance of a definite and help for world peace. He
stand by Congress, as quickly as echoed Marshall's argument of
possible, urged admission of "a the importance of U. S. leadership
substantial number of DPs as in the over-all resettlement pro-
immigrants, to demonstrate that gram.
To Rep. Gosset's question
"we practice what we preach."
Rep. Frank L. Chelf, Democrat whether admission of the DPs is
of Kentucky, said that in view "tied in with the Palestine ques-
of the probable difficulties in re- tion," Patterson retorted "not a
porting favorably on the bill and bit."
of the intense sentiment in op-
Clark Cites Prejudices
position to it, he would seek to Attorney-General Tom Clark
amend it to admit 100,000 DPs. told the Sub-Committee that
Marshall replied that this would "practically every person who
help, that it would be "a lot bet- appeared in support of this bill
ter than nothing," but, answering presented his facts and views on
a question by Rep, Cellar, said the basjs of actual experience or
that he "much preferred" admis- first-hand acquaintance with the
sion of the 400,000.
subject," while most of the oppo-
Rejecting the alternatives of
sition witnesses had based their
forcible repatriation, abandon-
testimony on 'a lbng-standing
ing the DPs to the German
prejudice to immigration itself.
economy, and indefinite "seg-
He urged the Committee to
regation and maintenance" of
bear such prejudices in mind in
the DPs in Germany, Marshall
determining the weight which
firmly stated his support for
should be given to their utter-
resettlement "in the various
ances in opposition to this bill.
countries of the world willing
Earl G. Harrison, chairman of
to receive them."
Rep. Gosset asked the Secre- the Citizens COmmittee on Dis-
tary if the U. S. does not have a placed Persons, charged that a
larger proportion -of immigrants move is being made in the Senate
than any other country in the to stall action on the entry of
world. Marshall snapped, "that is displaced persons in America "for
the significance of the Statue of two years at least, possibly until
they are dead." Harrison said
Liberty."
Marshall underscored the abil- that Senate Resolution 137, intro-
ity of the U. S. to absorb the duced by Sen. Chapman Rever-
comb, Republican of W. Va., on
DPs.
As one "deeply concerned" July 11 on the floor of the Senate
with the readjustment of veter- for action, "will, if passed, hope-
ans, Marshall vigorously doubted lessly entangle the displaced per-
that they would favor turning sons problem in Congressional
over the DPs "to the people who investigation, red-tape, fumble
uprooted them and enslaved and delay."
Rep. Frank L. Chelf, Democrat
-them, or kept them homeless in
of Kentucky, has introduced a
these camps."
Texas Democrat's Charges
resolution to admit a maximum
Rep. Gosset, citing the Meader of 100,000 displaced persons to
report, (which alleged that Jew- the U. S. during the next fiscal
ish DPs were unfit material for year following passage of the
American immigrants), and testi- bill.
Ss,
Rev iew
is!
NEWS
of Jewish Events
Page 20
VOLUME XI—NO. 19 34 oiii&o. 22 Friday, June 27, 1947
Childress' Enthusiasrri,, Parents' Gratitude
Prove Excellence of Day Camp Program
,
selection was the applicants'
familiarity with the religious
and cultural aspects of Judaism,
since great stress is being laid on
Jewish content this year. A
glance at a week's schedule
seems to indicate teat the Cen-
ter's goal of easy inculcation of
Jewish material, so that it be-
comes a- natural part of the
child's daily activities, is suc-
cessfully being achieved.
Besides the special programs
marking Tisha b'Ab and the
Herzl-Bialik anniversaries, the
campers hold weekly Sabbath
services, and a daily breaking-of-
.
bread _ ceremony before lunch. In •
ARTS AND CRAFTS GROUP AT CENTER DAY CAMP: Left addition, Palestinian songs and
to right: Betsy Kendler, Sybil Gittleman, Gary Peck, Eddie Appel- dances are introduced in the
baum, Miss Shirley Sallus,•the counselor in charge; Alvin Swartz,
dramatics periods, Eretz Yisroel
Carry Usher and Barry Bronson.
By RUTH MIRIAM LEVINE
programs are featured at assem-
Jewish News Staff Writer
blies, and Jewish art Is empha-
sized in the crafts shop.
In line with the rapidly-accelerating national trend to-
ward year-round education through increased city and country
camping activity, is Camp Habonim, the Jewish Community
Center's eight-week summer day camp.
Now in its 18th season, Camp Habonim this year will
provide in-city directed vacations, in four two-week sessions,
for more than 500 children aged i
six to 14. The staff of 22 ex-
perienced counselors is led by
director Samuel Milan, social
studies instructor at Central
High School, who served as di-
rector two summers ago, and
head counselor Morton Good-
man, ,newly-appointed director of
intermediate activities at the
Center.
Camp Habonim's value to the
community is illustrated by ex-
cerpts from two of the many un-
solicited letters received from
parents of campers:
"I want to take this opportun-
ity to tell you how wonderful
the day camp has been for Ron-
ald," one parent wrote. "When
he comes home he is clean, hap-
py, and calm, which means that
you must certainly be doing
fine work to keep a child so
content during the warm
weather."
Another g r at e f -u 1 mother
STORY TELLING HOUR: Mrs.
wrote: "Playcamp is the best Marianne
filler is shown here
thing that has happened to my directing the story-telling hour,
girls. . . . We live in a gentile one of the attractive features of
neighborhood. The Jewish at- the Center Day Camp. Only a
mosphere — experiences, songs handful of the large group of
and prayers—they get at the children listening to Mrs. filler's
stories is shown in the photo-
Center is priceless."
graph.
Four-Point Program
The "Jewish atmosphere" re- had previous camping exper-
ferred to, is one division of a ience, several at the Center. Four
four-point program on which are in-service teachers and the
Camp Habonim is based. The others are college students, many
others include recreational and of them preparing for careers
educational activities; democratic with children. The arts and
group living and self-government crafts, swimming, dramatics and
through a Campers' Council; and music specialists are all experts
creative self-expression through in their fields. "The counselors
the project method and through were really 'hand-picked'," Mil-
hobbies.
an said. "There were at least
That this program is enorm- four applicants for each posi-
ously successful in keeping the tion."
children busy and happy is at
Given special emphasis in staff
once apparent upon entering the
Center building at Woodward
and Holbrook while camp is in
session. Their enthusiasm is evi-
dent in the shrieks of joy eman-
ating from the swimming pool,
in the gay rhythm of young
NEW YORK (JTA)—The In-
voices raised in traditional camp
songs, in the intent look on the terim Committee of the American
faces of nine-year-olds gathered Jewish Conference has recom-
about their "bunk" counselor as mended postponement to Novem-
plans for the day's projects are ber of the fourth session of the
Conference, which was slated to
discussed.
At one lime, Director Milan be held on Labor Day week-end
explained, Camp Habonim was to discuss conversion of the or-
little more than a series of small- ganization into a permanent body.
The announcement said that
group activities. This season,
however, program, campers and several organizations affiliated
counselors are united by a strong with the Conference had request-
camp spirit, stemming from wise ed the postponement in order to
programming and excellent per- avoid a conflict with "an impor-
tant emergency Jewish interna-
sonnel.
tional gathering requiring the
Experienced Counselors
Each of the staff members has presence of a substantial number
Lunch-Box Suggestions
A firm foundation for a united
camp .program was laid last sea-
son by Aviva Gootman Kauf-
man, who is now in Palestine.
Among her ,seeminglsksmall, yet
vital, innovations was a mimeo-
graphed set of lunch-box sug-
gestions drawn up by a commit-
tee including Mrs. Robert Danto,
Mrs. J. Ostrow and Mrs. Muriel
Rosenbaum.
Distributed to parents of camp-
ers, it serves as an aid in pre-
paring
the lunches-- 'whin the
campers carry each day. They
are asked to bring dairy meals
three days a week, with which
the Center provides milk, and
meat lunches Tuesdays a n d
Thursdays, when soft drinks are
served at noon. The children also
-
are provided with a milk and
cookies snack in the middle of
the afternoon.
Of course the traditionL1 -
sports, swimming and excursion
aspects of day-camp programs
are included at Camp Habonint.
Campers, as a rule, choose their
own site for twice-weekly trips.
They have made visits to city
parks, the zoo, the Detroit His-
torical Museum, and are plan-
ning others to recreational and -
educational spots.
Day Camp Program Growing
While out-of-town camps de
bring city children into closer
contact with nature, day camps,
being considerably less expen-
sive, are becoming more and
more popular throughout the
country. With a program as ex-
pertly planned and led as that
offered at the Jewish Commun-
ity Center this summer, they'
are a wonderful addition to a
community's educational a n d
recreational program for its chil-
dren.
Letters, such as those quoted
above, show how grateful are
the parents for such a successful
undertaking.
Conference Seeks Postponement
Of Parley Scheduled for Labor Day .
of delegates and officers." The
meeting referred to is apparently
the conference of thesTorld Zion-
ist Actions Committee, which is
slated to meet in Switzerland at
the end of August.
Delegates to the Conference are
being asked to indicate whether
they .favor a postponement. A
letter signed by Louis Lipsky,
executive committee chairman,
expressed regret for the incon-
venience that would be caused by
the postponement, but suggested
that the additional time could be
used for wider public hearings
on the new form of organization.