Information Issued by the Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain 8 Fairfax Mansions

Vol. XIII No. 7 July. 1958 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN 8 FAIRFAX MANSIONS. Office and Consulting Hours: FINCHLEY ROAD (Corner Fairfax Road), Monday to Thursdoy 10 a.m.—I p.m. LONDON. N.W.3 Fridor 10 a.m.—I p.m. Telephone: MAIda Vala 9096/7 (General OfTice) MAIda Vale 4+49 (Employment Afency and Social Services Dept.) themselves with the cause. But the help of all our friends was necessary to win over those A YEAR OF PROGRESS who still stood aloof though, directly or indirectly, they too benefited from our work. AJR Activities Under Review Our expanded activities had necessitated the establishment of several new committees, and General meetings may often only be formali and of a flatlet Home was under active con the AJR had been able to enlist the constant ties. They may, however, also be the mani sideration but, so far, no suitable sites could and devoted co-operation of many people, to festation of the substance and strength of an be found. all of whom we were deeply indebted. organisation, and we feel that the AJR's Regarding the AJR's Social Centre, the general meeting this year gave evidence of speaker stated that the premises at 57 Eton Election of Hon. Officers considerable achievements during the period Avenue were regularly frequented in the after under review. noons by elderly persons and in the evenings After the report Mr. W. M. Behr, a member by people who were still able to work. The of the Executive, moved the election of the In his opening address the Chairman, Mr. H. Club had proved so popular that it would be Executive and Board members. According to Reichmann, first paid tribute to the memory of most desirable to obtain more spacious the proposals published in the April issue of fhe late Mr. F. Wittelshoefer who, for many premises, which should also provide facilities AJR Information, the present Executive and years, had been closely associated with the day- for serving meals. Board members were re-elected, and the to-day work of the AJR. He also recalled In connection with the Social Services following persons were elected as new mem the loss sustained by the death of Mr. E. Marx Department, efforts to find accommodation at bers: Executive—Mr. A. Berglas, Mr. H. S. (Wembley), who had been a member of the reasonable prices for an increasing number of Garfield and Mr. Alfred Straus (Edgware). Board. persons who had been given notice, now stood Board—Dr. W. Dux, Mr. H. E. Kiewe, Dr. K. The General Secretary, Mr. W. Rosenstock, in the foreground. Visits to sick persons in Krotos, Mr. C. T. Marx, Mr. Z. M. Reid and started his report with a reference to the reper their homes and in hospitals were also of Mrs. L. Wechsler. cussions of Minister Schaeffer's recent speeches. growing importance. Mr. F. E. Falk, of the Executive, who, He referred to the steps taken on behalf of together with Mr. F. E. Koch, had had various the Nazi victims to counteract any dangers to AJR Information Expands negotiations with the authorities concerned, the implementation of the compensation pro- gave a comprehensive report on the taxability Referring to AJR Information, Mr. Rosen of compensation payments and on the steps Sramme. The need for a competent organisa stock spoke of the increased size of the journal tion to safeguard the interests of the community taken by the AJR in this matter. A special com and of the supplements on compensation mittee of experts, set up under the auspices had again been reaffirmed. Another aspect of legislation issued during the period under 'he Association's activities in the field of of the AJR, had also assisted. One concession review. As far as the editorial policy was con which had been obtained a few years ago was compensation was the establishment of a cerned, stress had been laid on " news " rather lêvolving Fund for loans to needy claimants. the claimants' option of spreading arrears of than on " views ". The AJR had not the right pensions over the years to which they referred. lo date about £14.(XX),. averaging £100 per to express editorial opinions on subjects con claimant, had been advanced, of which about Furthermore, capital advance payments to troversial among its members but, where claimants who subsequently decided to choose *-J.000 had been repaid by the beneficiaries matters of direct relevance such as compensa ^tter their claims had been settled. Rente instead of capital indemnification tion were concerned, it was its duty to spwak were now treated as non-taxable capital on behalf of the community it represented. Two Further Homes receipts.* Representations to have the The audited accounts for 1957 revealed that recurrent payments under the Federal Indemni Dealing with the Homes for the Aged, the the total expenditure amounted to £9,700. The fication Law treated as " earned income " had âker stated that after the Home at Netberhall main items of expenditure were: social services only had limited success,^ and the treatment "wardens (Otto Schiff House) had been in and administrative work for the Homes of several types of payments as " unearned operation for almost three years, a second (£2,800); administration of the Revolving income " seemed to be most unjustified. As far fiome at Bishop's Avenue. Hampstead Garden Fund (£850); Social Centre (£700); share of as their taxability was concerned, all recurrent Suburb (Leo Baeck House), had recently been AJR Information in overhead expenses payments under the BEG, with the exception ômpleted, and a third Home at Priory Road, (£1,200); general expenses and expenses for of indemnification for damage to body and *^«w (Otto Hirsch House), would shortly be meetings, travelling, etc. (£2,000): costs for health, were at present considered taxable. The AiD^' ^^^ preparatory work, with which the printing, despatch and fees for AJR Infor speaker dealt in detail with the arguments '"R. office and a large number of voluntary motion (£3,150, of which £1,000 was brought forward by the representatives of the Workers had been occupied during the past covered by income from advertisements, AJR in the course of their efforts to obtain year, had comprised not only problems of leaving a net expenditure of £2.150). The exemption from taxation. An amendment "Uilding, furnishing and staff appointments total expenditure was only partly covered by clause to the Finance Act, which had been °ut, above all, the selection of 90 residents contributions and donations and expenses negatived last year, would be tabled again, ,?jong the many applications, of which at least could only be met by the balance from the with a view to incorporating it in the Finance -W) could be regarded as urgent. Several sub preceding year and by an allocation out of the Act, 1958, and the relative particulars had been committees had been established to examine recovered heirless German-Jewish assets brought to the notice of all interested Members ach application and to interview the administered by the leading refugee relief of Parliament. He paid tribute to the untiring applicants. organisations, under the auspices of the efforts of Mr. John Foster, Q.C., M.P., in sup The admission policy could not be based on Central British Fund. It was, however, most porting our case in Parliament. strict rules, and each case had to be considered essential, if the AJR wished to remain an The reports were followed by a lively dis On its own merits. Whilst in other Homes in independent and voluntary organisation, for it cussion, which gave members the opportunity ^'^ country residents are accommodated in to be able to rely exclusively, or at least to a of obtaining additional information on the oormitories for four or more persons and in greater extent than at present, on assistance subjects dealt with. It was particularly rouble rooms only in exceptional cases, the from its members. heartening to hear several members expressing Iree Homes have only single rooms, with some There was a regular influx of new enrol their appreciation of the AJR's efforts, and a ouble rooms. It was unavoidable that a num- ments, and it testified to the reputation of the number stressed the need of the membership ^r of double rooms had to be occupied by organisation that such members included out helping to consolidate the organisation. Peiôns unrelated to each other. standing scholars and scientists, who had * See April issue AJR Information. The establishment of a Home for the infirm themselves expressed the desire to associate * Sec March issue AJR Informaiion. Page 2 AJR INFORMATION July. 1958 FROM THE GERMAN SCENE AUSTRIARf NEWS OESTERREICHISCHE ANTI-SEMITISM ALIBI FOR HITLER The Sunday E.xpress has published an article SOZIALVERSICHERUNG The " Allgemeine Wochenzeitung der Juden in by William Hamsher, its Bonn correspondent, Der Austrian Desk des United Restitution Office Deutschland" claims that the Arab League is which reveals that (ierman schoolchildren are teilt mit: deliberately and successfully stirring up anti- not getting an unbiased and clear picture of the Emigrierte Opfer nationalsozialistischer Verfol Semitic feeling in the Federal Republic. development and actions of the Nazis. gung erhielten bisher ihre Renten in der oester The League has its offices in Bonn, from where In many instances the lesson books with which reichischen Sozialversicherung ausgezahlt, wenn sie it has been distributing vicious literature. There the schools are provided lay the blame for Hitler's entweder noch oesterreichische Staatsbuerger sind were unpleasant demonstrations in various parts ascent to power on the Allies, who are accused oder die oesterreichische Staatsbuergerschaft of Western Germany.

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