Evening star., 1947-02-23
European Jews PlighI
Is Worst Since War,
Morqenthau Asserts

.
Europe's Jews are in a worse posi-
ton now than at any time since
the end of the war, former Secre-
tary of the Treasury Henry Morgen-
thau, jr.,, told a national conference
of the United Jewish Appeal here
last night.
Mr.. Morgenthau is general chair
man of a $170,000000 Embarrassing
campaign being launched by the
Appeal. In his audience at the
Shoreham Hotel were approximately
400 Jewish leaders from communi-
ties throughout the country.
The worsened plight of European
Jews, Mr.. Morgenthau said in a pre-
pared report, is owing to the in
difference of European governments,
the gradual liquidation of UNRRA,
the resurgence of antisemitism in
Poland and elsewhere, as well as to
general conditions of economic dis
location.
250,000 in Camps.
Fifteen months ago there were
$4,000 Jews in European displaced
persons camps, according to Mr..
Morgenthau. Now, he said, there
are approximately 250,000.
AT this time last year." said the
former Secretary, I'VE had every
hope that emigration to Palestine
would thin out the ranks of the
Jews in the camps" He added:
The gates of Palestine-where-
the Jewish community pleaded for
an opportunity to share their food,
their clothes, their land and their
freedom with Europes homeless
Jews-remained closed despite the
recommendations of the Anglo
American Inquiry Commission, and
despite repeated pleas by President
Truman for a more generous and
more humane immigration policy in
Palestine"
Gen. Eisenhower, Army chief of
staff, is scheduled to open the fund
raising campaign formally at this
mornings session of the conference.
Principal speaker this afternoon will
be Herbert H. Lehman, former Gov
ernor of New York State and former
UNRRA director general, who will
preside.
Groups Merge Efforts.
Three Jewish groups which have
consolidated their Embarrassing eff
forts in the appeal are the Joint Dis
tribution Committee, providing re-
lief to destitute Jews abroad; the
United Palestine Appeal, promoting
the settlement and development of
a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and
the United Service for New Ameri-
cans, aiding in the adjustment of
Jewish refugees arriving in the
United States.
Success in the present drive will
leave these organizations $45 ,000,000
short of the $215 100000 they need
to meet their worldwide commit
ments, Mr.. Morgenthau pointed out
yesterday. He listed these commit
ments as $122,000,o00 for the Joint
Distribution Committee, $85 100000
for the United Palestine Appeal and
S8,O00,000 for the United Service for
New Americans.
1t is hoped that the difference can
be made up by foreign contributions
to the Appeals constituent organ
izations and funds received from
the ntergovernmental Committee
on Refugees.
Mr.. Morgenthau said projected
requirements were minimum re-
quirements. He cited the case of
Hungary, where the Joint Distribu-
tion Committee would plan to spend
S12,000000. With this sum it must
feed more than 100000 Jewish sur
vivors-for "a cents day per person.
Rosenwald Is Speaker.
with Hungary in the throes OF
a terrible infationary crisis, what
miracles of economy must be &C
complished to feed a man, woman
or child on "a cents day?" Mr..
Morgenthau asked. And if we use
the entire S12,OOO,OOO for food, what
will happen to the children who
must be placed in institutions
where they can be cared for? What
Will be the lot OF those VINO need
medical attention? Who will take
care of the homeless?"
Another speaker last night was
William Rosenwald. national chair
man of the Appeal and honorary
president of the United Service for
New Americans. He discussed the
work of the latter organization.
"If we demonstrate our
capacity to receive and provide for
large numbers (of Jews in the
United States, it is bound to affect
the immigration thinking of all
other civilized nations. notably that
of Great Britain in liberalizing her
policy of Jewish immigration into
Palestine" Mr.. Rosenwald said.
1t was announced last night that
Edmund T. kaufman of Washing
ton would serve on the Appeals
national committee as chairman for