The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-04-21
Comment On
World Events

AASA anu tdliy IcpdbIldbfDH, IEstl
tlenent and social rehabilitation oi
10000 refugees from the recen-
hostilities in Palestine were imper
ative to avert a major human cat
astrophe, Lessing j. Rosenwald
president Of the American Counci
for Judaism, recently addressed &
letter to various religious bodies
throughout the country, in which
ne urged issuance Of point state.
ment in support of these and other
refugee measures ''in that spirit oi
compassion and brotherhood which
is cardinal tenet Of our common
Judeo-Christian heritage"
Central religious bodies to which
Rosenwald sent his letter included
the Federal Council Of the Churches
of Christ in America, Synagogue
Council of America, Nationa
Catholic Welfare Conference, anc
Church World Service.
Rosenwald's letter recalls that
when news Of the tragedy Of the
Jewish refugees from Germany
first broke, men and women of al
faiths came forward to speak up
and render assistance of human
not sectarian-grounds. The para
mount need now, too, is to demon
strate human compassion, to reaf-
firm the universal application OF
the moral law. The world cannot
escape its human responsibility for
the homeless, whether they are
Jews in Europe or Arabs in the
Near East"
/. "The plight of these new wand
erers," the letter continues, "who
formerly made their homes in Pal
estine, is already beyond descrip-
tion. 1t is reported that they are
dying at the rate of nearly 1000 a
day. An estimated "a percent are
children, mothers, the aged and the
infirm. They swarm in camps and
among Arab-held Palestine and the
neighboring countries. Smallpox
and typhus have broken out; there
is lack of doctors, drugs and medi-
cines, and conditions of near-star-
walton prevail.
"In the face of this tragedy, it is
futile to indulge in recriminations
as to where the responsibility lies.
What is of the utmost Importance
is to continue and carry further
the awakening of world con-
science in behalf of all who are
homeless. Now is the time
to prove to the refugees that they
are not abandoned, and to our
selves, that our practice is consist
ent with our professed ideals"
\ T. \
While praising the action of
Congress in recently authorizing
payment of $16,000,000 towards the
United Nations Palestine Relief
Fund, the letter declares that "tem-
porary relief in terms of soup
kitchens and blankets will not
solve the new refugee problem any
more than the DIP question in Eu-
rope could be settled on the basis
Of such measures. The armistice
negotiations have repea t e d | Y
stressed the necessity for harmony,
peace and friendship among all the
peoples of the Near East. Our own
government, which is so deeply
with peace and stability
n that part of the world, might
we'll urge early adoption of such a
course as the return of the home
ess to their homes and of expedit-
ng the full adjustment of those
lot wishing to return to their ORR
yinal homes.
Indifference and in act o H."
letter continues, twill
Inevitably leave trail of bitter
less to rankle dangerously in the
minds of the Arab millions and
make them ready victims of total
tartan propaganda. Three-quarters
# a million exiles unprovided for,
will constitute a source of deep dis
urbance to the prospects of peace.
even from the narrow standpoint |
# political interest, the Western
lations must evince greater under
tanding and keener concern for
his problem"