Detroit Jewish
Philanthropy
Prior to 1899
First in a Series of
Articles by Irving I.
Katz. On Page 20
VOLUME 15—No. 25
HE SW ISH NEWS
et
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Weekly Review
of Jewish Events
2114 Penobscot Bldg.—Phone WO. 5-1155 Detroit 26, Michigan, September 2, 1949
'Beards':
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Hungarian Jews Smuggled Into
Austria; East-West Issue Rises'
UN Middle East
Survey Pledged
Help by Truman
WASHINGTON (JTA)—President Truman, in a
statement issued from the White House, pledged the
full support of the U. S. Government to the economic
_mission created by the UN Conciliation Commission
to survey conditions in the countries affected by the
Palestine fighting last year. The President indicated
that the U. S. will assist in the carrying out of the
mission's recommendations.
The statement was released following announce-
ment of the appointment of Gordon R. Clapp, chair-
man of the Tennessee Valley Authority, as head of
the mission. The President said:
"Mr. Clapp will head a mission composed of ex-
perts, recruited on an international basis, which will
examine the economic situation arising from the_
recent hostilities in. the Near East and will recom-
mend to the Conciliation Commission means of over-
coming resultant economic dislocations, of reinte-
grating the refugees . into the economic life of the
area, and of creating permanent conditions which
will be conducive to the establishment of permanent
peace. In view of the urgency of the problem, it is
expected that the survey mission will complete its
work in a comparatively short time, and Mr.. Clapp
will resume his. duties with the Tennessee Valley
Authority.
"The U. S. Government has attached the greatest
significance to the work of the Conciliation Commis-
sion in facilitating settlement of issues outstanding
betWeen Israel and the Arab states.
"This government now pledges full support to
the newly-created economic mission and stands
ready to give careful consideration to such assist-
ance as we might appropriately render, under the
auspices of the United Nations, in carrying out the
recommendations of the mission. I am confident
that the United Nations and its member states
which are in a position to render assistance will
do likewise.
"Traditional American cultural interests in the
Near East have in recent years been reinforced by
the expanding economic and commercial ties and by
recognition of the important role of that historical
crossroads between three continents in the main-
tenance of peace and security of the world .14 today.
This steady expansion of our relations with the Near
East has given rise to a natural interest on' the part
'of this government in the welfare of the governments
and peoples in that area. In so saying, however, I
wish to emphasize that now as in the past we have
no special privilege to grind. We do, however, have
an obvious community of interest with the countries
of the Near East, and it is proper that we should
give that relationship the careful and understanding
consideration which it merits.
(Continued on Page 3)
Did We Take Them From This
Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News
PARIS.—About 10,000 Jews have smuggled ,
themselves from Soviet-dominated Hungary into
Austria during the last month, it was reported
Tuesday at the session of the World Jewish Con-
gress by Ernest Stiasny, WJC representative in
Vienna. Mr. Stiasny said that when he left Vienna
the arrival of 12,000 more Jews from Hungary
was expected there. Most of the Hungarian Jews
proceed to Austria through Czechoslovakia, he
reported, and added that the Soviet Authorities in
the Russian zone of Austria do not molest the
Hungarian Jewish refugees and permit them to
cross into the American zone. About 5,000 of the
Hungarian Jews who entered Austria last month
were permitted to remain in the country because
they have proof that they have sufficient means
to maintain themselves, Mr. Stiasny stated
The general session of the World Jewish
Congress on Tuesday heard reports about the
Jewish situation in Algeria and Tunisia from
delegates representino. these countries. They
suggested that the World
Jewish Congress
''
should open an office in Tel Aviv to aid North
African Jews in Israel. It was announced that
the Congress intended to open an office in
Algiers shortly.
The necessity of arousing worldwide public
opinion against a revival of Nazism and anti-
Semitism in Germany was stressed by Dr. David
Petegorsky, of the American Jewish Congress.
Dr. Petegorsky added that every effort must be
made to persuade the United States Senate to
pass a resolution calling for an investigation of
American policy in Germany.
Dr. L. Bienenfeld of London said that Jew-
ish organizations in Eastern Europe were sub-
ject to dictation by the policies of their govern-
ments. lie questioned whether the WJC was
justified in recognizing these organizations.
Sidney Silverman, British M. P., declared
that the WJC had been summoned in order to
examine the issue whether a complete break-
down between East and West could be pre-
vented.
Mr. Silverman challenged the Communists
of Russia to organize a protest meeting against
the ban on emigration to Israel of Ro-
manian Jews. He urged the World Jewish
Congress executive to lead in healing the breach ,
in territorial division, stating that it should be
preparett to go a long way, but the "Eastern
communities must be ready to make their con-
tribution, beginning by abandoning the cam-
paign of misrepresentation."
Dr. A. L. Kubowitsky said that the WJC
conference here was "Vpnotized" by the problem
of relations between the Jewish communities of
the East and the West. This was an important
question, he added, but was not the only one.
To Bring Them To This?
Year. of Repatriation:
No year in modern Jewish history approaches
the year 5709, now coming to a close, for
the record number of homeless and displaced
Jews who were helped by American Jewry
to begin a new life of freedom in lands of
their own choosing. Almost 300,000 Jews
found new homes during the year. The scenes
t6bove show the results of generous giving
to community campaigns on behalf of the
United Jewish Appeal. (Top) Jewish dis-
placed persons transferred from Germany to
Marseilles by the Joint Distribution Commit-
tee for embarkation to Israel. (Second), an
actual embarkation scene repeated many
times at ports along the Mediterranean.
.(Third), arrival scenes as immigrants land at
Haifa, from where the United Palestine Ap-
peal will take them to transient camps for ul-
timate resettlement on farms and,villages.
,(Bottom) a mother and her two young
Children arrive in the United States where
United Service for New Americans will help
them adjust to the American way of life.
There's little difference between life in a European DP camp (left) and life in an Israeli tent city (right).
Europe's Jewish DP camps are today largely a thing of the past, but the refugee camps in Israel hold
70,000 homeless Jews, 11,000 of whom are children. American Jewry did not help transfer these Jews
from Europe in order to put them in canvas colonies that are just as miserable as the bleak DP barracks.
In this season of reflection, preceding the High Holy Days, the Jews of America must resolve to end
Jewish homelessness in the Jewish homeland. The new immigrants need jobs, tools and decent homes to
live in if they are to build a new life of freedom, dignity and pride. Continued generous support of the
nationwide United Jewish Appeal campaign will assure speedy progress in carrying on the rehabilitation
and reconstruction programs of the UJA's three constituent agencies . . the Joint Distribution Commit-
tee, United Palestine Appeal and United Service for New Americans.