VOL. XX No. 4 APRIL, 1965 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE- ASSOCIATION OF JEWISII REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN a FAIRFAX MANSIONS, FINCHLEY RD. (corner Falrtax Rd.). London. N.W.I 0//ice and Consulting Houn: T<l*phoni : MAIda Vale 9096/7 (Genaral Oflice and Welfare for the Aaed), Monday to Thursday lOa.m.—lp.m. 3—6p.i MAtda Vale 4449 (Employment Agencv. annuallv licensed bv the L.C.C., and Social Services Dept.) Friday lOa.m.^Ip.m. and the choice of appropriate subjects have JOINT EFFORTS BEAR FRUIT been secured. The appeal received a good deal of notice Response to "Thank-you Britain" Fund in the national press and on radio and tele­ vision, but though good progress has been In this issue readers wUl find a prelimi­ agreement with the wording of an appeal made in terms of money collected, the nary list of contributors to the " Thank-you letter should be no excuse if one is in number of contributors is as important as Britain " Fund. It includes former refugees favour of the cause for which it is meant. the total amount. Therefore, for the benefit from all walks of life, among them many As it happened, quite a few expressly of those AJR niembers and their friends Well-known personalities. In addition, stated that it was just the impact of the who so far have not contributed, a dona­ there have been quite a few contributors letter which prompted them to associate tion form is enclosed in this issue. Those *ho wished to remain anonymous. themselves with the Fund. who want to contribute outright donations At the time of going to press about The suggestion was also put forward that should return the form, together with their i-67,000 has been raised, of which £46,000 contributors should have been given a remittance. Those who want to make their ^''e gross payments under deeds of choice between several diflerent objects of payment under a Deed of Covenant, thus covenant. This result is certainly encourag­ the Fund. This would have been impos­ increasing the benefit from their contribu­ ing., especially as it has been achieved sible because, whatever the ultimate result tion at no cost to themselves, should ask Jpainly by written propaganda and, there- will be, nothing useful could be done if for the necessary forms. Contributors lore, at very lov/ administrative cost. the sum were split up into three or more should also state on the donation form When the appeal was initiated its spon­ parts. Others said that a more " tangible " whether their name may be included in sors were entirely uncertain of the result. object should have been chosen. With the the final list of donors, which will not Iherefore they had to conceive a scheme best intentions each of them proposed a mention the amounts. which did not depend on a fixed target, but cause particularly near to his heart, and The Fund will only have achieved its Would lend itself to a certain elasticity. This the wide range of suggestions included, actual object if it has commanded the Was one of the reasons—though by no among others, care for handicapped chil­ active support of the vast majority of the ^eans the decisive one—for which the dren, for disabled soldiers or for refugees former refugees in this country. For this establishment of annual research fellow­ from South Africa, as well as support of reason it is vital that everybody should ships, the amounts of which could be organisations which fight for freedom and give something — be it large or small, adjusted to the funds available, appeared justice in this country and abroad. The according to his means — but, at any rate, particularly suUabie. variety of suggested objects in itself shows a token of participation. that it would have been impossible to con­ Approvals and Comments ceive a scheme which would have appealed GEORGE MIKES LAUNCHES APPEAL to thousands of people without exception. AMONG HUNGAKLINS Taking stock at this stage, it would be Yet valuable as aU these causes are, the To launch the "Thank-You Britain" Fund Wrong to deny that the scheme has met not beneficiaries would have been organisations appeal among refugees from Hungary, the °nly with general enthusiastic approval but already in existence. What the prepara­ author, Mr. George Mikes, held an "At Home " also with some criticism. Some people said tory committee had to aim at was a scheme v/hich was attended by a number of prominent that our debt of gratUude had already been which stands out in its own right as an scientists, scholars, artists and industrialists. amply repaid, because quite a few in our identifiable lasting mark of gratitude It was decided to form an Appeal Committee which, among others, will include the con­ Jl^i.dst had rendered outstanding services to expressed by a community which, in a cer­ ductor, Mr. Georg Solti, the pianist, Mr. Louis this country as scholars, scientists and tain phase of history, was faced with a Kentner, and Dr. Julius Jakobovits, Chairman ^rtists. It appears anyhow doubtful common fate, but which in the course of of the Federation of Hungarian Jews in Great Whether the ordinary refugee is entitled to time is bound to disintegrate. Britain. jake credit for such individual achieve- f^ents ; but it is certainly no accident that Proceeds for Practical Purpose Jne scheme has been endorsed to a particu­ AJR SPONSORS MEMORIAL MEETING larly high extent by these prominent per- The research to be sponsored by the This year's meeting in memory of the ^onaUties, some of whom act as Patrons, Fund will not be devoted to abstract or ^^ many of whom have contributed to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and of the six theoretical subjects, but to questions of miUion Jewish martyrs wiU be held on Sun­ dire practical importance. None of the day, April 25, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. , *t was also put forward that practically manifold problems with which society is It will, at the same time, mark the 20th ail refugees had done their duty during the confronted in our days can be brought anniversary of the Uberation of the concen­ war, especially as members of the Forces, nearer to a solution by mere empirical tration camps. Sir EHwyn Jones, Q.C., M.P., t?K ^^^^ ^" peace-time they had also con- action. Any large-scale and comprehensive the Attorney-General, has agreed to address ij^uted to the development of industry measures have to be based on fact-finding the meeting, and the names of the other °nd commerce. Therefore, it was claimed, and analytical research work. The prob­ speakers, which will probably include Dr. tni ^°^^^ overdo the case if they now lem of higher education, at present under Nahum Goldmann, will be announced °°^ additional steps for expressing their discussion, could not have been approached shortly. The meeting will start at 3 p.m. ^jatitude. As an answer to this argument in a methodical way but for the Robbins As in previous years the AJR is among int ^^finot do better than quote a successful Report, produced under the guidance of the sponsoring organisations of the func­ '"dustriaUst: "We certainly have contri­ one of the patrons of the " Thank-you tion, and it is earnestly hoped that many buted to this country, but if we had not Britain " Fund. The same applies to ques­ members will attend, thus paying tribute to een admitted this opportunity would not tions such as housing, care for elderly the memory of those whom they have lost in i!, . arisen and our Uves would have ended people, integration of immigrants from the holocaust. Tickets for reserved seats m Auschwitz". overseas, to mention only a few of them. (free of charge) may be obtained from the I ythers again felt that our sense of grati- The need for thorough research in the field AJR Office, 8 Fairfax Mansions, London, jifle had been stated in an unduly strong of welfare work has been repeatedly N.W.3 (MAIda Vale 9096/7), which, after r?y m the appeal letter. A letter which is stressed by all quarters concerned. By the publication of this issue, will also be able *aaressed to more than 10,000 persons can co-operation of the British Academy in the to give further information about the pro­ gp^^r be expected to meet with the unquali- administration of the Fund, the qualifica­ gramme. ^0 approval of every recipient, but dis­ tions of the research workers to be selected Page 2 AJR INFORMATION April, 1965 GERMAISY TODAY TRLALS Warsaw Ghetto STATUTE OF LIMITATION INVESTIGATOR'S PAST A Bielefeld court has imposed nine sen­ Bonn Parliament Considers Extension Herr Erwin Schuele, head of the Central tences of hard labour for life on Heinrich Agency for the Investigation of Nazi Crimes in Klaustermeyer, one for each of the nine Jews The first step towards extension or even Ludwigsburg, has admitted that he had been he was convicted of kilUng in the Warsaw aboUtion of the statute of Umitation on Nazi a member of the Nazi Party, but denied East Ghetto in 1941-43. The judge said Klauster­ war crimes was taken by the Federal German German charges that he has been shielding meyer had not received orders for these ParUament on March 10, when it was decided war criminals. He told reporters that he had kilUngs but had acted from " sheer lusl foj to pass on the matter to the Legal Committee appUed for Nazi Party membership in 1937 to murder ".