) ·,

. :~

-.---·-----~~-~-.-··-··--·---· ----trF- .~.t>YZ-x2~~ x;~~~ / -1}~~:;}-:

/

TitE UNIT~n HuNGARIAN ·?nvs oF- AMF.RIC.i\• INo.

R..A~fUEL B. OIILDAU?t! ~PRI!ISIDNNT

lUt'i UHOAD\VAY

NE\V YOUU: n, N, Y.

OOiln.A..-PT 7-401"10

Miss Florence Hodel, i'iar Refugee Board, Washington 25, D. C.

Dear !t:iss Hodel:

July 6th, 1945.

Thank yo1l so much. for your letter of J1me 30th, 1945. It was delayed in transit by reason of the fact that you had addressed it to 184 Broad\~ay instead of 1834 Broadway.

_ I have foll?wed your sugffie;tion and-have written to l1fr. Warren Qf the State Departm.~pt asking for an appointment. -~I would want very much­to go in to see you whenT ain in Washington but, as I recall it, you told me that you would be a\~ay next week- on vacation. I shall, however, take advantage of your kind offer at some future time and consult you again.

SBO!VF

/

~Y ;gur;JL_ SAMUEL B. OHLBAUM1 President.· -

~~--~-----~-- ----------'--------''----

JUi~ 3 0 b'+:l

Dear Mr. Ohlbaum:

General O'DwYer has asked me to look lnto the problems yo~ presented to him in your letter of June 2'1, l945j w 1th respect to relief and rehabilitation for the ews o~ Hungary.

As to your first ques~ion, l have checked with the interested government ~enoiee a~d find that at · the mome_nt it -is impossible to ship any quant1t7 ot clothins to Hl.lllgary either directly Of.' thro11gh other.

-"-'Ooun tr 1es • In oonneo Uon w1 th . this pro blell 1 e q- r gest tha~ you keep 1n close touch with -nr~ James Brunot of the President's War Belief Control Committee, who

. has indicated that_he will be pleasea to disouu· the matter with you and keep you currentl;y $dv1sed of aD7 changes 1n the situation. -~- ·

·~

With respect to yol.lP seoond.q11esUon, I wlab to advise 70u that at the moment there is no direct method tor the remittance of money to Hungary. How­ever the Treasury Department bas indicated that it is whling to consider appl1oati.ons to remit tllllds to_ Hungarr either through bank1ng taoilitiea ln Sw1taer­land or thro11gh the tac1l1 Ues of the Department ot State. Permission to use the taoil1t1ee or the -Departaent of State must be arranged for through Hr. Kenneth O. Krentz, Assistant Chief of the D1v1s1on ot Foreiga Service ~minie~ation. __ ·

_ In answer to 7our third question, 1 am a4v1se4 by the Department ot State that 1t 1a willtng to aeo4 through ita channels a message trom 1011 to the United States Minister in Bl.lllgarJ. The Department ot Sate bas no information concerning the -auagarr Jeviah Repreeen.tative Oou1Uee• which fOU. meatloned. 1 baYe been .further advised that it 1e tapoaa1ble tor aDf private organ1zat1oa or c1then to oo•unloate direc\ly wUh Colonel 'townsend~

. ~-

- 2-

I feel that you would-be best assisted 1n your problem to get aid to the Jews of Hungary if you would arrange to dlsoues the matter with the Department ot State.· Mr. George Warren, Advisor on Refugees to the Secretary of State, would be willing to talk with yo~ at some length concerning your problem. He expeets to receive a detailed report from the United States lUnister 'cy' ih Budapest very shortly whioh will have the latest. information oonoei'ning the oond1t1one· arid neede,of the ,__ ._,. Jews. in Hungai'y.

It there 1a any further service I can do-·ror you in this matter, please do uot hesitate to call on me.

Sincerely yours,

f · : lJ~~4J Jlorenae ~<id'l · '( ~,J -~

Florence Hodel Assistant Executive Director

--}:

Mr. Samuel B. Ohlbaum, freeident, The United Hungarian Jews of Amer1oa9 lne., 184 Broadway, ·. New York, New York.

FH:ve 6/30/~

TELEPHONE: CIRCLE 6-1900

/ '

'<ir4£ ~uit£o ~uu_getriet:ll 3J£fus of J\m£ritet, 3Juc.

A,""'"" Am.,>b• '"''" '""' , __ ~~J~ "''"" '""'"" '"'"'' mu.

CENTRAL OFF1CE: 1834 BJ:!OADWAY, NEW YORK, N.Y.

HONORARY PRESIDENT: ·-------------~ . ·----- -----Dr. Stephen S. Wise

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT:

Dr. Julius S. FischOr

ACTING PRESIDENT:

Samuel B. Ohlbaum

VICE-PRESIDENTS:

Dr. Jacob Burger Eugene Fenvyes Dr. Joseph Fried Rabbi Moses Klein Dr. Henry Lax Dr. Simon Miller Rudolph Perl Rabbi Joseph Popowitz Martin Zeilf Gustave Zugman

TRE"SURER:

Dr. A. V. Weinberger

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

Bernard Price

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:

Albert Gross

COUNSEL:

Martin M. Mandell

TRUSTEES:

Stephen Aron Eug~ne Blau Mrs. Molly Brucker Ferdinand Fischman Joseph Greenfield Bela Kestenbaum Alex S. Klein Frank: Krauss Mitchell LuHman Miss Millie Newman Abraham Schwartz Mrs. Helen Schwartz Eugene Wittman

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: In Formation

Joseph H. Parness, Chairman William Baruch Mrs. Jacob Burger Max Endler Alex Heller Eugene Israel Frank Krauss Rabbi Joseph Popowitz Bernard Scherf William Schwartz Milton Smi.th Ernst Stark Dr. A. v: Weinberger Gustave Zugman

Jllne 27th, 1945.

General ':lilliam 0 1Dwye!', Executive Directo!' 1 War Kefugee Board,

Treasu!'y Building, Washington; D. c.

Dear General 0 'Dwyer:

Thank you for the COU!'tesy which you extended to a special committee of OU!' organization that met with you this morning at youl' office. In line with the confe!'ence held, may I impose upon Y.'ou to fllr·nish us with the .best available information which yqu may have concArning seve:t>al matters " th?-t are imminently of great import to the purposes of OU!'' organization. As you know, our objecttve has been and will continue to be to brl-ng all possible aid fo!'-relief' and re·­ha~litatisP. as well.~s projects of reconstruction, to ·the Jews of Hungary. In order that we may implement the resolu­tions heretofore adopted by our convention and to carry out the intentions of the t\'lenty-six substantial organizations composing The United Hungarian Jews of America, Inc., we desire to know. the following:

1. ',':hat direct means nould be made avail­able to us to transport a large quantity of' clothing for distribution among the JevJs of Ht~ngary? If this cannot be done directly, may.it be e.ff'ected through Switzerland, Humania or any other count!'y?·

2. 1ilhat means could be madB available to us to send sums of mone·y directly to a res­ponsible committee or gro1lp, recognized as such, functioning in the Jewish com­munity in Hungary?

i_• \

Is it possible for .us to make direct con­tact with the United States Minister to Hungary through tlw channels of the State Department and is it.possib].e further to make con tact, either through the Minister or otherwise, with the Hu.ngarian Jewish Representative Committeenowo·eri6Ved1;o

TELEPHONE: CIRCLE 6-1900

'<rrqc Jliuifcu ~uugariau 3Jcftts of J\mcriia, 3Juc.

'' "''""" •-"'" •~•· "'""' """'""' ~~J~ "'~" ''"''"" ''""'" m•" CENTRAL OFFICE: 1834 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, N.Y.

HONORARY PRESIDENTo

n,_ stephens. W<•e General William 0 1 Dwyer HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTo June 27th, 1945.

Dr. Julius S. Fischer

ACTING PRESID~NTo.

Samuel B. Ohlbaum

VICE-PRESIDENTSo

Dr. Jacob Burger

Eugene Fenvyes Dr. Joseph f'ried Rabbi Moses Klein Dr. Henry Lax· Dr. Simon Miller Rudolph Perl Rabbi Joseph Popowitz Martin Zeiff Gustave Zugman

TREASURERo

Dr. A. V. Weinberger

.EXECUTIVE SECRETARYo

Bernard Price

FINANCIAL SECRETARYo

Albert Gross

COUNSELo

Martin M. Mandell

TRUSTEESo

Stephen Aron Eugene Blau Mrs. Molly Brucker Ferdinand Fischman Joseph Greenfield Bela Kestenbaum Alex S. Klein Frank Krauss Mitchell Luftman Miss Millie Newman Abraham Schwartz Mrs. Helen Schwartz Eugene Wittman

BOARD OF DIRECTORSo In Formation

I oseph H. Parness, Chairman . William Baruch

Mrs. Jacob Burger Max Endler Alex Heller Eugene Israel Frank Krauss Rabbi Joseph Popowitz Bernard Scherf William Schwartz Milton Smith Ernst Stark Dr. A. V. Weinberger GustaVe Zugman

be acting in Hungary and recognized or acknowledged as an official gro1~p by the Soviet Government?

Incidentally, I noticed in this morning's T-imes that Coionel Dallas Townsend, the acting United States Commanding Officer in Budapest, "has been b1~sy tracing Hungarians for relatives in the United States." May it not be possible fox• us to make contact with Colonel Townsend or any other appropri­ate offi6ial connected with the United State~ Control Com­mission for the plwpose of lending our aid in such endeavors 'as are being made to locate and assist the relatives of American citizens in Hungary.

I am sure' that the burden which I am asking you tp · ''iv assume in giving your attention to the matters herein-men­tioned will be acc~pted by you in your usual conscientiqus and humanitarial\ sp;trit. ·

Assuring you· in advance of thB gratefulness of the many thousands of American Jews of Hungarian origin whom· this organization represents, I am,

SBO:VF

Special Delivery.

Sincerely yoU1·s~

. // ~ /t:' c:.:____ ~ OHLBAUM,

President.

-·-~be tunitell~ian 31etus ftM!~--'·' 1'8 &<r-8 R 0 A 0 W.A-Y~. :]i~RK 23, NrY;---. -~ ___ ____, ..... -~

Gener~ William O'Dwyer,

-Exeeuti ve DireC'tor,

War Refugee Board,

Treasury Buildlng,-

· . ~Pli61AL DEtiVB~~~·/c. L DELIVERY . . . . "

/' ..

-- ~

_ .. -- ~. ·'

Julf 29, 1944.

J)ear Sir:

'fhank vou tor your letter of July 2.7, 191t4, requeeUnc · an appointment to dhctlee the poel1b111Uee for aldiDC the. emigration of Hungarian Jeve.

Mr. Pehle, Exeoutlve Director of the War Refacee Boart, le out of the clty for-a week. or two. However, lhould you dealre to come to Walhtacton to·dteouae the matter durtac hia absence we ehall be glad to aee you at vour O()~'enlel)ot. h h quite poaalble that. one of the Aeehtant Jb:eout.lve Direotore of the Board wl\1 be ln lfev York within the next ten 4~• and he will call on rou it :vou eo deetre. It you. deolde to come to Waahington, pleaee call my office tor a definite appointment upon 1onr arrival. ~ teiephone nUmber 11 ExeouUve 64oo, Exteneloli~5371.

Levlt Hel'll&ll, :&eq. ~ 11 Veet.42nd Street, lnJcr.~ 18, lfev· York.

ccz Messrs. Abrahamson and Le11ser

J»l'rle"-an: 1hh 7/29/44

Yerr truly yours,

·rs!f· e. J-~. J. B. l'r114Man

AoUac Bxeoutive lltl'eotor.

,.

Hon John W. Pehle u.s. Treasury Dept. War Regugee Board IVashington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

LEWIS HERMAN COUNSELOR AT LAW

11 WEST 42ND STREET

NEW YORK 18, N. Y.

LONOACREt 5·6633

Jul~ 27th, 1944

I have noted your appointment as head of the :~esident's ''ar "'efugee Board and I, as representative of The. United Hungarian Jews of America, Inc., take this opportunity o:f writing these few lines to you.

Our organization has funds for the purpose of aiding the emigration of some Hungarian Jews to a place of safety. We are particularly hopeful that some Hungarian Jews may be included among those that may be set up in the free port that President Roosevelt has mentioned in one of his speeches.

Your name has been 'given to me as -the official in charge of tP,ese matters and with whom we could discuss the problems 1ve are interested in. Kinqly indicate Y>'.llt3t1_!!_nd .. where· I niay call upon you in ordertifli~-seu_ss_1vith you tlie--vifiis-anameans ou::r--orgaiiizatTon could help 'by effort and by funds in this this great humanitarian work·~

LH:EE

New York Council

of Hungarian Americans

for Victory

344 East 69th Street

New York

Regent4·5Z51

Why Do We Need-ViCtory Comicils? BECAUSE Americans of Hungarian pe­

sccnt need a central organization through which

they can make their contributions to numerous civilian war efforts. Frequently, war work or­ganizations haYe to get in touch with Americans of Hungarian descent. \Vhere can they find them? They cannot contact all the churches, all the societies, all the newspapers of Amer­icans of Hungarian origin. They must ~ct through coordinating societies, because such action does not entail any loss of time or effort. The necessity of "nationality groups" has been recognized by such important organizatiol}S as the Treasury's War Savings Staff, the USO, the blood-donor movement, the.Russian War Re­lief, all of which work with the assistance of such groups.

BECAUSE the Victory Councils are par­ticularly well equipped to finance the num­erous activities in which they engage. Since the work is voluntary, not much money is needed for Council expenses, except for stationery, postage, rallies and occasional radio broadcasts. Supposing there is no such central organization as the Victory Council. What happens then? In that case new committees must be set up all the time and that involves organization ex­penses in each case. ·But if there is a Victory Council the situation is entirely different. Then resources can be pooled and a separate financial division may be set up, entrusted with the task of looking after the troublesome pr~blem of providing money for expenses, while all the other divisions may continue to devote all their time and energy_to the purely war-activities.·

BECAUSE the Victory Council makes the best possible use of the time -of all of its workeni. Most of the campaigi)S are seasonal; only a few

-. -o(them are continuous .• ,,Al.tl_10ugh war bond

, sales should be continuous,-experience shows that new impetus is imparted to the selling. campaign by an occasional patriotic ralty. Even in the blood-donor campaign best results can be obtained by concentrating on certain days on which Americans of Hungarian descent make their blood contributions as a separate group. Now, if all committee heads belong to a Vic­tory Council, meeting regularly, they can help one another in their "slack seasons," so that all participate in the fight on the .home front all the year 'rol!nd.

BECAU~E members of the Victory Coun­cil gain valuable experience by exchanging in­formation. Mistakes of the past are avoi,led, and each task IS::laid in willing as well as ex-perienced n~ds. " .

* *

-The Victory Council lays the stress on the fact that many of us are or will be fathers and mothers of children whose happiness· and free­dom depend on the victory of the Stars and Stripes. Many of Us ·are fathers arid· mothers of boys fighting under our American flag at Guadalcanal, in Africa, and ·other parts of the

'globe. Heretofore, the emphasis of our organi­zations in the United States was on the fact that we were the sons and daughters of parents gorn in Hungary. It is evident that we want to pre­parejor the future rather than dwe1! upon the' past.

The success of our Victory Council in New York was due to all these factors. It has or­ganized Americans of Hungarian .descent in • New York City for ·a large variety of civilian war work. It is the members of our COuncil who have helped it to earn the praise of many

Here are the comments of a few of them on blood do~ations campaign.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox,

·"Hungarians have thus demonstrated alty_ to the country. of their adoption in than empty words."'

Attorney General Francis Biddle \Vrote pint:

"It is with interest arid profound tion that I note the generous contr·ibtJticm Hungarian section of the Legion of Blood Donors." ·

~

Former Governor Herbert H. New York wired:

' "May I ask .you to convey my apJJre<cia1:ior: and good wishes to all those who are pating in this splendid taking." .

Mayor Fioreflo H. La Guardia York City wrote:

"My warmest praise to the Hungarian unteer blood donors for National Defense. your choice of July 4th Jor rendering this viCe is indeed a happy one for there greateP. way to prove that you are true loving inen arid women than by life;s blood fonhe principle of freedom you hold dear." · . . · . ·

"Will you be good enough to express the Hungarian section of Yolunteer Donors for National Defense the of the Navy Department for donating for the saving of lives of men in our riavy. Not only is it. a splendid.·· choose July 4th for •h •• ; •• ~n •. ~,.;nn'butit :sho·ws' a'spirit of patriotism' \v'ell afford to_ follow.".

experience shows to the selling

patriotic rail y. Even best results can be

representative . Americans in high positions, Here are the comments of a few of them on our blood donations campaign.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, wired:

"Hungarians have thus demonstrated loy­alty to the country of their adoption in more than empty words."

Attorney General Francis Biddle wrote in . part:

"It is with interest and profound admira­tion that I note the generous contribution of the Hungarian section of the Legion of Volunteer Blood Donors."

Former Governor Herbert H. Lehman of New York wired:.

"May I ask you to convey my appreciation and good wishes to all those who are partici­pating in this splendid and necessary under­taking."

Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia of New York City wrote:

"My warmest praise to the Hungarian vol­unteer blood donors for National Defense .•.. Your choice of July 4th for rendering this ser­vice is indeed a happy one for there is ,;o greater way to prove that you are true-liberty­loving men· and women than by giving your life's blood for the principle of freedom which you hold dear."

Rear Admiral Ross T. Mcintyre wrote:_

"Will you be good enough to express to the Hungarian ·section of Volunteer Blood Donors for National Defense the sincere thanks of the Navy Department for .donating the blood fqr the saving of lives of men· in our army and navy. Not only is it· a· splendid gesture to choose July 4th for their donation but it shows a. spirit of patriotism that all Americans can well afford t~ follow." -

3

Oflicers,Jlivisions and Division-Chairmen of the New York Council of Hungarian Americans for Victory.·

The chairman of the Council is Louis Toth, certified public accountant, member of the firm ufHorwath & Horwath, member of the faculty of Cornell University, and chairman of the ·board of trustees of the First Hungarian. Re­formed Church of New York. The chairman presides at Council meetings, represepts the

· Council at meetings and conferences and co-. ordinates the plans and activities .of the various divisions.

The secretary of the Council is Lewis Herman, attorney at law, who has been very active and very successful in .arranging Hun­

~, garian programs_ on the radio statk>n operated · ·;. by New York City. Mr. Herman works with

Emery Komlos, assistant secretary of the COun­cil, who is also chairman of the Civilian De­

~ fense Division.

Ernest B. Horwath, senior partner of Hor­wath & Horwath; nationally known firm of public accountants, is chairman of the Advisory Board. Members· of this• Board are prominent · Americans of Hungarian descent who can not devote much time to the civilian war effort bui: who can assist the Council in other ways,

Th;· Council has .the following organiZed divisions:

WAR BONDS DIVISION .. • Chairman: Mrs. Albert Philip. This division began its activ­ities with the sale of war bonds and stamps at our patriotic rally on _October 11, 1942. Mrs; Philip is a senior staff officer· of the American \V'omen's Voluntary SerVices and she had long before been engaged)n selling war bonds. The group· of womel} · under ·her leadership sold nearly five million dollars worth of bonds in 1942.·

USO.AND BLOOD DONORS DIVIS­IONS. Chairman: Dr. Geza Takaro, pastor.of

4

the First Magyar Reformed Church of New York, and Vice-President of the Magyar Synod of the Ev~ngelical and Reformed Church. In 1942 'our USO Division has turned over more than $2,500.00 to USO headquarters. Our division for blood donati9ns is among the first on the list of the nationality _groups. In 1942 we have given more than 1,000 pints of blood to the Red Cross for the armed services.

ALLIED NATIONS' RELIEF FUNDS DIVISION. Chairman: Erno Rapee, music di­rector of Radio City Music Hall. This Division has been particularly active on behalf of the Russian War Relief Fund. A dinner arranged by it for that fund resulted in the collection of nearly $2,000.00.

WAR REFUGEES DIVISION. Chair­man: Ferenc Gondor, editor and publisher of Az Ember, a liberal H~ngarian weekly. This Division has an office at 507 Fifth Avenue, New Y ark City, and is instrumental in helpi~g Hun­garian refugees here and abroad.

CIVILIAN DEFENSE DIVISION. Chair­man: Emery Komlos, Secretary of the Hungar­ian Section of the Interna\ional Workers' Or-· der. The Division is soliciting volunteers for. all types of civilian defense jobs.

SALVAGE DIVISION. Chairman: Dr. Eugene A. Hegy, zone director of the Yorkville Defense Council and member of the staff of the salvage division of the War Production Board in New York. Some of Dr. Hegy's plans for salvaging metal were adopted by WPB and wet'e mentioned in the Congress.

PUBLIC MEETINGS DIVISION, Chair­man: T. G. Kemeny-Harding, President of the Harding Impex Co., -Inc., New York, and Vice­Chairman of the First Magyar Reformed Church, New York. This division makes all arrangements for public meetings and rallies of the Council. It ~ommunicates with other com­mittees in the United States. to ~tablish similar

organizations for the promotion of the war effort. In cooperation witli"'the chairmen of all divisions, it manages all temporary campaigns.

- The' 1943 Victory .Book Cafupaign ·and-the March of Dimes -campaign to combat infantile paralysis are conducted through this· Division. ·

PRESS DIVISION. Chairman: Dr. Emil Lengyel, lecturer on education, School of Edu­cation, New York University.· This division looks after the publicity of the Council, makes arrangements for radio broadcasts,. writes scen­arios.

FINANCE DIVISION. Chairman: John H. Sherry, member of the firm of Sherry and Picarel!o, attorneys at law, member of the fac- · ulty of Cornell University. This divjsion is in charge of the financial affairs of the Council. Members pay no fees; all contri~utiops are vol-untary.

* * *

Our Council has done remarkable work in

home front. ' ~niting Americans of Hungarian descent on the 1'3

~ .. We call on all Americans of Hungarian ~ descent, irrespective of their creeds or political •

affiliations, to join the Victory Council. We can- ~f,l' .. not .afford to squander our energies or to put our personal inter~ts ahead of the interests of our country engaged in a momentous struggle ~U for the survival of those great,.institutions to which we have fallen heir.

Our supreme desire is to be able to look r~ our friends and neighbors, our soldiers and sail-ors in the -eYe and tell them with a clear cori- f science that we a~e doing our share and ·haie ! been doing our share right along; . .. I

Let all of us, in every community of our. i country, form committees,. designated as Vic- · I tory Councils, so that there may b-e ri& do~bt ·c;,,·;J

'"'" "'"""""''"'";" .· . ~ .

I

Chairman of the. ·(;:ouncil i.~UJs TorH, 551 Fifth Avenue, MUrray Hill 2-2772

10 S~creta~:~ i~:.~~~~~~;~:o=~~y, .J· COrtlandt 7-4519 _ .--- -·~---- -- ~----= .

Asst. Secretary of the Council

EMERY Km,fLOs, 80 Fifth Avenue, ALgonquin 4-7733

Chairman of Advisory Board ..

ERNEST B. HoRWATH, 551 Fifth Avenue, MUrray Hill 2-2772

Di,,isio~ Chairmen': War Bohds

MRs. ALBERT PHILIP, 419 East 57th Street, PLata 5-6896

USO and Blood Donors

Dn. G~zA TAKARa, 344 East 69th Street, REgent 4-5251

Allied Natio~s' Relief Funds ERNo RAPH'Ji, 1260 SiXth Avenue, CirCle 6-46QO ·

War Refugees

FERENC GoNDeR, 320 East 79th Street, BUtterfield 8-'6168.

Ciyilian Defense

EMERY KoMLOS, 80 Fifth Avenue, ALgonquin 4·7733

Salvage

DR. EOOENH A. HEGY, 16 East 79th Street, RHinelander 4~9818

Public Meetings

Tmon G. KEMENY~HAAmNo, 1 Hudson Street, WOrth 2-3170 .

Press

Dn. EMIL LENGYEL, 7&15 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NEwtown 9-5688

Finance

JoH·N H. SHERRY, 110 East 42nd Street, MUrray Hill 3-8070

MRS. PIRI ScHWEIGER, 1111 PaCk Avenue, SAcramento 2.-4765

Office of- War Refugees Division AMERICAN COMMITTE.J!.FOR HUNGARiAN -W~

REFUJEES, 507 Fifth Avenue, MUrray Hill 3-3872

JUl 11 1944

.~

Dear Jfr. Luttmans

lhia ie in reply to yuur ~elegram dated July 7. Sinoe it wae not del.ivered. untU 6a45 p.m. on ~y 10, Ill d a:tno. ·the rally of your org~niution 'WU aobeduled. for .JUly 9, it ••• ot oourn, impoellble for me to send a metMge to you on the oooaei.ono£ the nlq. ·

I Wiah to &lllllre you that .I share . your deep apprehel!.eioD and horror tor the inhuman and bastial treatMDt that bu 'b4aen 1mpo•ed upon the J&W~~ of Hun~. 'the'.Wir a..t'\lpe Board te urgently aonaerlled with the aituat:l.on •d. 18 tllldng ever,y practiotlble etep 1{1 its eflort to br:lni reli.et and rtaou. to ~ Jen of JIIDgary. I tdeh hnher to ~811\U'e 10U tbat the . Board will continutl UDrllllitt:ln~ iD ita •t.ro.-.e in thit dinot:l.on. · ·~

"' It, u a result of the diaaueeione at fOUl' raU¥, there dnelop any epeo1fio SUggestions, I W>uld tiPPreoiate your eencUng thelll to me.

Veey e1ncerely youra,

(~~pel) l ••• Ml• J. lf. Pehle

Exeout1w D.lreotOl'

I

. ,,.· .·-. -~

@~tj};-

~b 7/ll/44

J W PEHLE~ ,_

·. ______ EXECUTIVE DIRECfO~

BETHESDA MD=i '..,. ' . .::.··,-.···:':1:::·

JUNE 5TH-,-· .l,9lfl~, YOUR~ ..... ' . ~\· ... - _··:-· ----~-~------·-._}.~

889~: THE UNITED HUNGARIAN .JEWS OF Afit1ERIGA OFi WHOSLRES

cor•Mvl 1 TTEE 1 AM CHA 1 RMA~J WISH TO.EXPREdsnEEP A.P.PREHfNsJ

AND HORROR ON ACCO U·~H OF' THE I ~lH Uf1;1-AN Af~D BESTt AL':C~NDUCJ' ·OF THE HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT TO,VlARD THE JEWS OF. HUNGARY ')'

\'!OULD APPRECIATE INFORMATION so THAT ·MY COMMI.TTEE MAY ' ·-· .,.-_:.,_,__ _ .. ,.._,,,., .•.....

CONSIDER THE .ENTIRE MATTER .IMMEDIATELY AS TO' WHAT PRAC w,. -- --·· -~ c ~.--- •• • ---~- ' • -_--,-=---

STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN OR CONTEMPLATED ay YOUR BOARD·

. - --APPEARING I~ THE NEW YORK TIMES OF JUlY ~r1944,

.,,,..,.>c·•·-~, ---- . -

E NT I TEL ED :tH UN GARY DEPORTS JEWS-, NED EN ·SAYS:!;n - - ..

.. g AS AN Jr,·JPORTANT RALLY WILL BE HELD Bj MY OR

ON --lUL y 9TH, I . SHALL WELCOME ANY M'ESSAGf'·FR'O~~­OCCAS I ON:..:

--

JUN 5- 1944 In repl.7 pleas_e refer toa 889

Dear Mr. Luttmanz

I have your letter of June 1, 1944, requesting information as to how your organization may be of assistance to the War RefUgee Board iri resouing the Jews of Hungary. ,;

Expressions of the concern of the people of the United States for the fate of the perseouted peopl'es, and evidence of pub- . lie support for t~eir rescue, will facilitate our efforts to obtain the humanitarian objectives for which the Board was created. ·r assure you that the Board is. doing everything in its power to save as many of the victims of enemy oppressiori as is possible.

As you undoubtedly~know, the Board is working in close cooperation with a number of'established private organizations which are rendering a valuable service in the field. of emergency aid and relief. A great many- of the programs which the Board has developed include projeota .whi1:ih are operated and financed by such agencies which receive their funds from private contributions.

Your interest in the BC!ard•s work and your desire to be of assistance are indeed appreciated.

Mr. Jl:ltchell Luttman, Chairman, Rescue COIIJ!llittee, unp~d H'd!:0~.!!£- Mo_f. AJatp.ticaA-, "IB 4 Broa. , New York, Hew York.

~. /JJ_- ~_A./J- .

'iPJ ~lnlab 6/5/44

Very trul.7 yours,

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~-· w. Pe~ . Executive Director

. ..

,. j::·

;muib~ ~uu_garhm 3h~fus of J\m~rica 1834 BROADWAY

NEW YORK, N. Y.

Han. John w. Pehle, Director War RefUgee Board Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir l

June 1st, 1944

W. R. 8.-~.-~~ Flli ng 1/uthority

~~/~.!ruN J> _1944 , No. Ans. Req, -&r-·-·-lnitia! __ ._. __ _ Date._, __ _

On May 14th, 1944, a convention was held at New York City, under the auspices of the United Hungarian Jews of America.

At ths t time, 25 J~wish Hungarian Soci$.1es Joined _ this National Organtzation for the specific purpose of rescufJ <~ work in all fields, covering financial aid, clothing and medicines with which ~C) __ h,elp ap.d assi_st ~\l.I' unf6rtunate co-r'~lig_iC)nista ,i_:n. _ _!lungary. · · · · · ·

~

Since yoUJ?· organiZation is pP,imar:Uy interested in this humanitarian work,. we shall ba grateful 1f you will i~gr.,_~

-ij: ~~w U:~I:ii:~~~~J-!Plow~~m~9-1.L~t<:> t~.~.-~!?~.!." .. J.2~!:., ... !!!~~.t~" .. ~!-~ --~ ----· --¥-~~· - --- .. ---- ~---------~·-ri->-.-...... - .

Events are moving so fast, tbBt any delay woJi'd bEl catastrophic, and therefore, time unquest j,onably is of t'lie ess,ence.

. ~ ~me - . _-_, ;<~uJ!I.J ~

--- A---meeting of tbis-ergani-za-t~on-att-ended-by-tre--d:el~g~les------of the said 25 Societies will be heldJune 6thr 1944. J\s we ::;,'; _ wish to formulate definite plans at that time, we"tra'ICe this ::;: opportunity of requesting you to adv!§.~~Y:.!L.P . ..!L~.Q ... thSL.R.Q.~!1!J.U.1!i!~ and det_!!i~ of :Qrocedure so tta. .. L.~.b~t.._l!!Stter _mav be fully~:dJ!ilc\lsl!E!d -and acted upon for wfiicHCrtnank you in'Sav·anc~-for>'yci'iir"'K!'ro~=":'~-"· cooperation.

Looking forward to your .reply in time to necessary data for our meeting, I am,

the

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