By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1960, Jewish
' Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
_
WASHINGTON. — The issue
of second-class citizenship status
for naturalized Jewish-Americans
in the war claims issue exploded
in the Senate just before adjourn-
ment.
The explosion occurred when
the Senate Judiciary Committee
considered a bill to provide com-
pensation, from vested Nazi as-
sets, to Americans who suffered
wartime damage to their prober-
ties in Germany by air raids and
other military operations.
It was noted that the bill, H.R.
2485, restricted eligibility to per-
sons who were American citizens
at the time the loss was incurred.
This would disqualify Jews and
others who became American
citizens after the war.
An ironic moral contradic-
tion emerged. A member of the
Nazi Bund who held U.S. citi-
zenship would be compensated
if he lost his German home
during the war. But a Jewish
victim of the concentration
camps, who obviously could
not emigrate to America and
become a citizen until liberated
in 1945, would receive no com-
pensation.
The rule was simply that if an
individual gained American cit-
izenship after the war, the United
States would ignore his claim. He
would have to seek compensation
from the European nation where
he originally held citizenship —
even if that nation was now be-
hind the Iron Curtain. Obviously,
he would have no hope of alter-
native relief if excluded from the
U.S. legislation.
The Senate, however, was un-
able to take final action on this
controversial bill in the closing
days of this last session. A deci-
sion was postponed until the next
Congress meets in January.
Senator Kenneth Keating,
New York Republican, and
Senator Philip A. Hart, Michi-
gan Democrat, both committee
members, voiced objection to
H.R. 2485. They said, in a sup-
plemental report, that "follow-
ing World War 11 we welcomed
thousands of new American cit-
izens to ourshores. Large num-
bers of them suffered inde-
scribable privations during the
war. Many were tortured and
enslaved and were the victims
of every form of persecution.
Certainly these people who are
n o w full-fledged Americans
have as much claim to partic-
ipate in such a program as any
other segment of American
war claimants."
The two Senators noted that
the committee would return
vested properties to former Nazi
owners. "In other words," said
Senators Keating and Hart, "we
are proposing to compensate for-
mer enemy nationals . .. if they
are now citizens. On the other
hand, the committee is decreeing
that other new citizens shall be
denied the right to claim relief
because of their former nation-
ality."
Senators Keating and Hart in-
sisted that "such inconsistency
cannot possibly be justified."
It is estimated that more than
$100,000,000 is available to corn-
.pensate Americans for proven
World War II losses.
Another issue of Jewish in-
terest before the same committee
involved the Heirless Property
Bill, H.R. 6462. Congress ad-
journed without enacting this
measure which provided a $500,-
000 bulk settlement of heirless
property claims filed by the Jew-
ish Restitution Successor Organ-
ization.
Passage was blocked because
Committee Chairman Olin D.
Johnston, of South Carolina,
insisted on coupling this bill
with more complicated and
controversial legislation. It
passed the House last March.
Senator John F. Kennedy had
made a special personal appeal
for passage of the Heirless Pro-
perty Bill. He said "It is a meas-
ure which makes possible use of
funds which were owned by
persons who were persecuted by
the Nazis, and who died without
heirs, for the benefit of needy,
surviving persecutees now in the
United States."
He pointed out that the Jewish
Restitution Successor Organiza-
tion had been duly designated and
should justly receive the agreed
sum to cover existing claims. The
Office of Alien Property had sup-
ported the amount sought. The
funds would come from vested
Nazi assets.
, After Congress adjourned. an
explanation came from Mike
Feldman, Sen. Kennedy's legis-
lative assistant, who worked hard
on the issue. Feldman said, "the
failure of the Senate to enact
either the Heirless Property
or legislation eliminating
e
second-class citizenship
s of
naturalized American
as due
largely to the lack
sufficient
opportunity to inf
many mem-
bers of Congress
the real basis
for this legisla
Finial Permits
Israe Bond Sale
Throw
an agreement with
the Ba
of Finland, the Fin-
nish gol. nment has authorized
the sale
State of Israel Bon. -
in its t. ritory, it w •
nounc.
by Dr. J
J.
Schwartz,
• • nt of the
Israel Bond Irganization.
The Finnish decision to permit
the launching of a campaign for
Israel Bonds brings to 29 the
number of countries in North
and South America and Western
Europe in which the sale of
Israel Bonds is carried on for
the purpose of promoting the
economic development of the
State of Israel, Dr. Schwartz
said. •
Preparations are being made
to organize a committee of
leaders for the campaign in Fin-
land which has a Jewish popu-
lation of approximately 2,000,
most of whom make their home
in Helsinki.
Jews of Morocco Bring Problems to Crown Prince
PARIS, (JTA) — Leaders of Israel re-examined, in view of of Moroccan Jews are unable to
the Jewish communities in Mo- the fact that many thousands contact their relatives in Israel.
rocco have asked the Crown
Prince, who is also Deputy
Prime Minister, for an audience
to discuss with him a number
of problems concerning the Jew-
ish population. A memorandum
outlining these problems had
been submitted several weeks
ago to the Ministry of Interior.
One of the major problems is
the elections to Jewish Com-
munity Councils. Under the Mo-
roccan law, the Ministry of In-
terior must permit the holding,
of such elections. The last elec-
tions were held in 1953 and,
since then, many of those elect-
ed have ceased
their duti
er probl•s the kid-
ing of
ish girls for
arriage
Moslems. Many
ewish
is have been kid-
ap••y young Moslems and
°reed to marry them. The Mo-
ing
ocean authorities are
nd
ittl to hel the
e
he
n
ca
i,
•mes
ret ne
0
s are
he Jewis '
stion
• s to
the
commu-
bud
We're As Near
ncils.
dget, which
t by t
inistries of In-
As Your Mailbox
erior a
Welfare, was
fixed
e years ago. Since
he amounts have not been
creased, although they are not
sufficient because of the rise
We make our saving service avail-
in the cost of living.
able at your corner mailboX, which
is "open for business" 24 hours a
Current Rate
Among the other problems
for discussion in the nationaliza-
day, every day. You can save at
OPEN AN
tion of education. The Moroccan
your convenience by mail and earn
ACCOUNT IN
government indicated that it
the Highest Rate on Insured Sav-
ANY AMOUNT
intends to unify education in
ings in Detroit. We even pay the
the country, and to take under
postage both ways ! Come in or
its authority the Alliance Israe-
write for save by mail forms.
lite schools. Leaders of the
Jewish community fear that this
intention, if carried out, may
spell danger for Jewish educa-
tion in Morocco.
The Moroccan Jewish leaders
Downtown: CADILLAC SQUARE Corner RANDOLPH
are also anxious to secure the
elimination of the many diffi-
Northwest: 13646 WEST 7 MILE Corner TRACEY
culties which Jews encounter
Both offices open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday
now in securing passports. They
Northwest office open Thursday Night till 9
would also like to see the sever-
Downtown Friday till 6
ance of postal connections with
EARN MORE!
The
aft
d
is drown. The estate seems
he death of the h band, and
e taxation by th
w up" much of t
childr-
ily. Naturally, N:is
to receive as m
of your
e
e analysts and financial advisors, has a num-
plans which can enable you to pass on to
hildren a great deal of money otherwise wasted
and estate toxes.
f your estate is in excess of $120,000 it might well
pay you to contact Mr. Leitmon for on appointment
at his office. There is no obligation for a preliminary
meeting.
successful
The phone number is WOodward 1-2110.
INSURANCE ANALYST
1833 First National Building • Detroit 26, Michigan • WO 1-2110
7 - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, Septemb er 16, 1960
Senate in Row Over Naturalized
Jews' Status in War Claims Issue