U.S. JEWS BACK ZION

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1947, Page 5

U.S. JEWS BACK ZION

ANTI BRITISH CAMPAIGN

AMERICAN TRANSPORT FOR MIGRANTS ASKED

(Received 5.5 p.m.). WASHINGTON, May 22. The Hebrew Committee of National Liberation has asked President Truman to underwrite illegal Jewish immigration to Palestine, by supplying twenty ships, and five hundred lorries, and fifty million dollars to pro mote it. The chairman of the committee is Peter Berg’son, He disclosed that he also had read a letter in which fifteen United States Congressmen wrote to President Truman supporting his committee’s request.

In the letter these Congressmen' had asserted that the use of American money, ships, and lorries would be “highly advisable” in emptying displaced persons’ camps in the United States zones of Austria and of Germany. Mr Bergson described this letter as “only the first step”. He suggested that the fifteen Congressmen would introduce legislation to make this programme possible. Mr Bergson also said that the U.S. State Department had not contacted the American League for a Free Palestine (with which his committee is affiliated, and of which Ben Hecht is chairman), regarding its advertising' in America and its soliciting of funds to support the Jewish underground and to transport illegal Jewish . im- I migrants to Palestine from Europe. He asserted: “It looks as if the U.S. State Department will simply con-> tinue to ignore the British protests”. Mr Bergson also asserted that a number of European Governments, especially that of France, had extended “tacit political assistance” in the matter of the illegal immigration”. The French Government’s attitude has been almost encouraging and helpful”, he said.