MARCH OF DIMES

FIGHT

INFANTILE
PARALYSIS

JANUARY 2-31

VOL. 74—Nn 1R

THE JEWISH NEWS

A Weekly Review

of Jewish Events

17100 W. 7 Mile Rd —VE. 8-9364—Detroit 35, Mich. Januar

8, 1954

Carolers:

SpiritUal

Bankruptcy

Threatens Jewry

Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper----Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle

– ,4-
ak°

Our Christmas

Commentary, Page 2

$4.00 Per Year: Single Copy, 15c

110 'Returnees' Reach Hamburg;
Will Immigrate to Latin America

U. S. to Intercede with Austria on Jewish Reparations

* * *

Sympathetic Attitude to
Jewry's Payment Demands

New Pathetic Chapter for DPs

WASHINGTON, (JTA' — A delegation representing the com-
mittee fdr Jewish Claims on Austria called upon Deputy Under-
secretary of State Robert Murphy to discuss the crisis in the
negotiations between Austria and the world Jewish organizations
for a settlement of Jewish claims. Jacob Blaustein, president of
the American Jewish Committee, Frank Goldman, honorary
president of Bnai Brith, and Adolph Held, president of the Jewish
Labor Committee, expressed appreciation for the sympathetic
attitude with which the U. S. Government has been following
these negotiations.
The delegation called to the attention of the State Depart-
ment the refusal of the Austrian government to continue negoti-
ations on settlement of claims for heirless property. Austria had
agreed to discuss a settlement of this issue last June when nego-
tiations began.
The delegation pointed out that while balking on a settle-
ment of heirless Jewish property, the Austrian government has
repeatedly attempted to restore property and legal status to
incriminated Nazis.
The delegation reported that Mr. Murphy expressed the deep
concern of the U. S. Government over the deadlock in the nego-
tiations between Austria and the Jewish organization. He as-
sured the delegation that the State Department will continue its
efforts to bring about the satisfactory solution of the present
difficulties. He further re-affirmed the State Department's con-
tinuing desire for effective action to give justice due in the inter-
est of victims of Nazi persecution.
A late JTA report from Montreal indicated the Canadian
government will "use its good offices" to seek resumption of
Austrian-Jewish negotiations.

MUNICH, (JTA) —One of the most pathetic chapters of the postwar history of
the Jews in Germany was drawing to a close as 110 bedraggled "illegal returnees" evacu-
ated the Moehl Strasse Synagogue, where they had been living under the most wretched
physical conditions, and left for Hamburg. From that port they will leave for Latin
American countries this month.
In Hamburg they will live in a German emigrants' hostel until they leave for Latin
America. Their expenses during the remain der of their stays in Germany will be met by
the Joint Distribution Committee and the central Welfare Agency of the Jews of Ger-
many. The cost of the emigration program will be borne by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society.
The 110 "returnees"—last of some 150 men, women and children—all came here
from Israel. Half of them had gone to Israel from Germany while the remainder had
emigrated directly from various East European countries. Finding economic or weather
conditions unsuitable in Israel, they "infiltrated" Germany via Austria and France
this spring, hoping to use Germany as a springboard for immigration to the Western
Hemisphere. Without valid German entrance or residence permits, the "returnees"
had hoped to find shelter at Foehrenwald, last remaining Jewish DP camp in Germany.
However, the German authorities, who now administer the camp, had effectively
barred this move this past summer when they carried out a census of the "illegal" DPs
in Germany, giving a semi-legal status to the nearly 800 who registered at that time.
The newcomers, penniless and unwelcome—wherever they turned in this new situation
—in the end sought sanctuary in the Moehl Strasse Synagogue.
Also from Munich comes a report of a request sent to the Bavarian Parliament by
the Advisory -Council- for -Reparations Questions and the Bavarian Council for Freedom
and Justice asking that all indemnification provisions in the Federal Indemnification Law
which do not require specific implementation regulations be put into effect immediately.
The organizations pointed out that work of the Bavarianjtestitution Office has come to
a virtual standstill while Federal implementation regulati s are awaited.

Gideons to Appeal Bible Ban to U.S.
,
High Court; Connecticut Faces Issue

WASHINGTON, (JTA)—Gideon Internation al Organization made known here that it will
appeal to the United States Supreme Court to set aside the recent New Jersey Supreme Court
ruling banning free distribution of the King James version Bibles to schoolchildren.
A statement issued by Gideon headquarters said the organization believed in the constitu-
tional principle of separation of Church and State but felt the New Jersey court incorrectly in-
terpreted the Constitution by barring schoolchildren from receiving Bibles "with consent of
parents."
It was said that a 1950 ruling later affirmed by the New Jersey Supreme Court held that
New Testament Bibles could not be considered sectarian books. The new 1953 ruling maintains
that a New Testament Bible is a sectarian book. Organizations concerned with separation of
Church and State hailed. the New Jersey decision as a re-affirmation of traditional civil liberties.

Seek to Block Bible Distribution in Connecticut Schools
NEW HAVEN, Conn., (JTA)—Efforts by the Gideon Society to secure authorization to dis-

tribute Gideon Bibles in the public schools of Connecticut towns came under attack here.
The society has asked the boards of education in Willimantic and West Hartford for per-
mission to distribute Bibles in the schools. The Connecticut Jewish Community Relations Coun-
cil has supplied to both school boards the text o f the recent decision by the New Jersey State
Supreme Court holding that distribution of Bib les in the public schools was a violation of the
Constitutional separation of Church and State.

Anti-Jewish Posters Put Up In Miami

MIAMI, Fal., (JTA)—Dade County Sheriff Thomas Kelly launched an investigation into the
appearance of placards in the city linking Jews to communism. Similar signs ' , were plastered
on poles and buildings along the Tamiami Tr ail between Miami and Fort Myers. A few weeks
ago, a whole district of the city of St. Petersburg was plastered with similar signs apparently
from the same source as those now appearing here.
A Florida state law makes it a criminal offense to put up posters or distribute printed ma-
terial tending to expose any religious group to h atred, contempt or ridicule unless the true name
and address of the person responsible for the p rinting and distribution is shown on the ma-
terial.

'America Plus' Outfit Seeks Arizona Foothold
an organization opposed to
PHOENIX, Ariz. (JTA)—The "Freedom of Choice" movement
anti-discrimination legislation and seeking to restore "freedom of choice" to American citizens,
has selected Arizona as "the test site for a nati on wide campaign to spread a program described
by opponents as 'hate-mongering and race bigo try,' " according to an expose published in the

-

Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Gazette.
The movement, also known as "America Plus," is run by Aldrich Blake, of Laguna Beach,
Calif. It has made four unsuccessful attempts to secure legislation in California which would
permit racial and religious discrimination.
Blake was quoted by the newspapers as declaring that he was setting up the movement in
this state because Arizona has no state civil rights code and he thought prospects would be
better here.
His movement, he said, would guarantee to businessmen, landlords and employers the right
to choose patrons, tenants and employees.
Eleven prominent citizens of Phoenix have already taken steps to organize an active opposi-

tion to Blake's activities here.

Heralding Jewish. Maisie:

This at-
tractive four-color poster announces the dates of the 10th
celebration of the Jewish Music Festival, which will be marked
over the country by hundreds of Jewish organizations from
Jan. 16 to Feb. 16 under the auspices of the Jewish Welfare
Board - sponsored National Jewish Music Council. The poster
is one of 36 program aids the Council has available for the
Jewish Community Centers, synagogues, music libraries,
youth councils and other Jewish organizations planning to

take part in the festival,

