.As~o~;;no;J ·,HS- Y7;,ch--Al/ ~~~ JR ti%Ul.JJ/e~-~:·

\

',-~-

-- - -- :~--- - -- ---_-

ogPARTMENT . ,:.OF··.

STATE

-- - __ - - --

. 194) APR •.t3 -· MWL 31

:-.c ,, . _':F. LJ... ·-· . -

-- -MJ\'1-970 LIJ,ISOH Distributionor true reading onl. y byipccio.l urrungcniont• ( i)

Socrc.ta.ry _or.· Sta. to

Utishington

,:/.~. ·Bern

Dated .. pril 'J..2, 1945 ..

Rec'd 6:46.p.ni.

CONTROL ·. , 2~44, I.pr'} 12, l p.m. . · CDP! TllRB"FROM MCCLELL.~ND. ' . · · · · .... ,

\ ::_

Dopar_j;m9nt.rs·.135o vams ~a4,~ ;~pZ.r1 5 ·

ICRC infol'Jlfs- rile tli..~t -it ;t~ %ro_.I>tunu tcly no lonf$or

. physice,llY. possil)J.__c ~hip TClibi' ~ood~. f:r9m Svii tzorland ·>.c . ·-··: -'---.. .·· , .. :-

. to region of YugOslo.vio. t1hcro: Crulips of J~ascnovnc nnd l . . . ... . .. .

StnrmgrudiskD. uro locu tod. :.J.:ong vJi th co.mp of' Ja:bla.nnc :

they arc on Sava Ribar about 100 kilometers duo south

oust or Zo.gT'ob ,in tcrrito1•y c.ith<:<r o. fighting zone 01'

nlrondy tnkon ovor by Tito. Only possible rolior channel

would/ th<.,roforo seem to bt. vfo. I~aly. I Ko.tzki is taking up question of /.rmcmio.ns in Ou1'mo.ny

' I and possiblo roliof to thum rtith Burclchn.rdt of ICHC this

v10ok in Gonova.

\'/MB

-- -·-~-'-

'-.~

'

DP~ ISAAC ALCALA Y Chit! Mbi of Yugo!tavia

Hcmorarr/ Prffident

OTTO-HEINRICH Honorarv :Chaim-Km

EXECUTIVE.COMMITTEE hND

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RO~L\N SMUCER Prf!idtnt

ALFRED BONDY Vict-Prt1idtnt

MANFRED STERNBERG Vict<Prtridtnt

WILLIAM ZUCKER St<rtlartJ

DR. LEO SUSSMAN MJI. StcrllarlJ

GEORGE RADO Trtaturu -

MfilABERS

DR. PAUL NEUBERGER ·CLARA ERES

LEO GOTTLIEB DR. ERNA KONIG DR. VICTOR KOERBEL DR. LUJO WEISSMANN

General William O'Dwyer Executive Director Wai: Refugee Board · Washington, D.C,

Dear General O•:Owyer:

Apri17,1945

Thank you for your. ~etter of·· April 3• Permit us to express ourgrati:tude for the aa;;iatance that-)olll'

0

1>fric'e is going to l~nd. to the refugees in cro:a:u~Yc_9nc~~-tr~tion camps •.

WZ/BBK

:ae:ri_eve jis,deai-·.General o •"Dwyer,

Respectfully yours, . .

. .

ASSOCIATION OF YUGOSLAV. JEWS . IN THE UNITED STATES;In\.

~~ 1~· .. / Vice-Pre~ident ~ :

:\· . i I l !

' i j

! j'

·-

J J~APR -7 Mf II 32 -·

·. ~A'.l:IO?L -D.b/L -·· LM1so11 B!WI

1350. ·. - . /.>· ·. . .. _ -. -The :tollolnng ror_1ic,c1e11~nc1 is HRB 484. - - ._ - .. -··._·· .• . / _-· V'

The Aseoc1at1on ot ¥ugoelnv Jws 111 tile Unlt~d 5tates· h0.8

coiled to_ the nttentlon ot the ltoard the pl1ghi or 1~000 to ,j,200 I : . -_ ·. - . - . ,- .. •· .. - .. . :_· . -

ru~osiav nntlonnls i1ho are held.under cpp(\l.ling conc.l1t1ona in _<

concentraUon CtiJ!lpB nenr J~een?Vll.0 on(i :Jtor& GJte.die1t~ ill Croe.ttaij _""' ___ , __ -~-'~---:-~ -·- ,. --- ---,-.:-:2v~·r'-

---1-•nu-·· represent this group to be the l'emnnnts-or i;.n Qr1_e~liit~ ' -___ , .- - _;'::~-~----':_~--~]f;;iY'~-,-;_--,,' _.

1.,, i

.... ! . 'I

I

~

lc.t1on ot .. 20,000, K1naly clill th1e rantte _ _' 't\~tent1on nfuroroer. ~:1tll. f Viel1 (d ~-o· m~king titfu'-tbo~~~~~~~~~~Jf~~'c to this group, llrd (b) ultim~te eye.ouc.~1o~:-1~tr.u~~ll:ik ... · ~;~~fji. W.ke111se, the Armenian Rol1et Corps, lnc. heri''11'le c-ri

ntion to the 8utter1ne or 1~men1r:n refugees fln(l prlsoner~~:Ot .,,_ '\, . =.:,.;•". . ··-,~/

t-!1tilln UeMirny. 'l'he1r.1r;torhlEJtt, one AZ'inik DJ~+IJ,8; rn - ! _ ·:.: ;J1~~~~~~~H~j~t:~:.' nte.n r.na ,resident or uenevc- and llerl1n, 1ndioHt'eif

there nre r.iove then 10,000 who ore ln need or c..ld.

/ ') l1r. DJntlc.11nn ndvises tht>t iurol;hord hc.o pror.i1ced to help u1 th _

, tr' noporktlon of onything thi t ocn lie sent to ti•ic gJ"Oup. ~he~~t·

needs· nre clothing, food cna t1ea101ne. It 10 11ugge8te<i'({~f~'1t

tbic '11'0Up onn be i•oa.o»ea, they, too, ohcre 1n tllo d1atr1but1on ot Willi tooo. Pal"Cels.

WJUHMMV:KG 4/6/4&

AOHESOll (AOTJJKJ) (GffiW) .• . NE ·.DWP

DECLASSIFIED Stat. Dept; Lotter, 1-1 Ml

.- -

!~ AsaoCiatioll ot IU&oalaT 1 ... 1D. "- unu.d at..t..• •• MllAi4 t0 -~ _- __ - - attenUon ot th• ~-tbJt pll&b\ of ltOOO to 11200 'iqoW.¥ M.\ioMJe Who _.

held under appalling ooudit.iou 1D. oOllcentnUoa ·oup,_ uar la;eeacrtu_Ull · ·-.. Stara Gradi.U& in cro&tJ.a•· _ Tbq represent \hia gi"OQp• iO b• t.be ~ of . an original. population of 201000~ l1ndq call th1a matter to t.be at\ent.10.'

of InteraroH-with a new (a) to 9l&ld.Di WRB food puoel• aYll.1lallle to t.hb group, and (b) ultilaat. evae11ation_ 1t INOh 1• pi>••ibJ.9. .. -

Lilcenao, the .ll'laeJd.an lleU.t Coipt1 lao~ hen has .called .r at.Mllt.ioa tot~ .uttering of !nNtd.U ~c&Dll i>n• a"' of nr wit.Ida~· T~ infor&1U1t., one Andk DJ1u1M1H en, an ~ national ·• neideDtt ot

· GeneTa and Berlin, inc'li~teu thllt there arc; 1111u-e than 40,000 who .r.· 1a DMll of aid. Mr. I;JtlMU.im acrdst• that Burckhari hae pi;'Ollieecl to help wit.la _V.U­portation 01· aqt.hlng that can be sent to .Wa group, Their Med• an ~tld.q, food and udiciA,11. It is sum:;oated tt.i.~ ii' thia; group can be reacb94, t.b9J', t.oc;, ahare in the dbtribution of \"ml food f&'U&le.- - · · · · - · -

2:15 p.m. April it, 19115 Mias Chauncey (for the Sec'y), Cohn, DJBoie, Gaston, Hodel, Hutchison, McOonw.ck, O•Dnyer, Filee.

r:p._~. PJMcCoroocluar 4/2/ 45

1:. 1 j

11r.1omn~.~' AHooiatioa ot 1Wp9la• Jwa

in tM Uat.W Stat.a, IM• 8J hthl• Stnet. ·- !•k ,, •.1. o.r. Ur.· Slllftrs

APR 3:. 1945

I .. S>l•lllNl iO ·--~ ,-t'1etta- C>t ..._ U . . "PM!atc t.b•·pupt. of the l1CICXJ·1-nl,:::!OQ -··• •tt.CIMla ., .,. U1d ha ........ u. ... MU', ... ,. ..... GNdiUa ha Cl'fJ&t.la~ - • .· . . . - . . ···. . .

ror 1oar s.t.n.u..t, • .n.· ~ _• 1 1 l•UOm to oa r.,...._19.Uw ta SdU.1-1 ·~ Ida eit *9 < w .. u.. Oll1' ,..,. ...... u .......... laeta.W. - .. neJ'JWnc JIOl.uale io a...S..t. tMM ~· . .,.~,....

ftllJu o•.., .. S.1.Uw Dlrtnoar

W' 181NMthp 4/3/1.'J ~ _.,

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-• I - ___ -. ___ - __ 5 ___ --- -·-~'<~-y_---------->•--.----.!C'A-

ASSOCIATION QfcYUGOSlAVJE\A/S IN~iffi~ UNITED STATE§,

oil. 1sAAC ALcALAY _ Chief Rabbi Of Y rigorlauia

Hon0<ory Pfnidmt -

83 BEEKMAN STREET --­NEW YOIU{~7. ij~ x: --._-_ . -

- - Tolol'hono: BE.l:i....n J.;6)9;1527

oTTo HEINRICH :Brig.General Wil-liam o 'Dwyer,Exeoutive Director ____ H"-norrggs;_fJ<Jir_ina11 -___Yf/ar •Refugee -_:Board-- - - -

Treasury :Building _ Washington,-_n.o._

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE _ -AND - - -

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dear General O'I>wy~r:

_ We have learned of -t}le gree:t rescue- work-_•. R<;;~~m~MUCER that is being impl8m:ented by the War Refugee :Board ALFRED BONDY with a view to saving the few remaining Bur:V1 vors of

VlcrPmidmt Nazi terror in Europe to who111 rescue still/ can be MANFRED STERNBERG brought. . --- -

Vict·PuW!tnt -WILLIAM ZUCKER

St<rttarv DR. LEO SUSSMAN

kit. Stcutarv GEORGE RADO -

Trta.1urtr

In deep appreciation Of this act:i,OntWe_ deem it our CJ.uty to call your attention to a gr_O\J.P of Yugosl(l.v national.a ,reported to<nUm.per 1000- to·_-12,PO who are held underappaling.conditio!ls in the conoentrationcampsnear_Jasenovac-and Stara Gradiska in-- croa tia, -- -~~hey. are the- reiiiiUiift s_~ of -an- e>riginai -· ---_ 20,000 - the others were murdered_ or died from star­vatioaoc~hese few 8Urvivors are the only Yugos~av

MEMBERS Jews who could stilll)e rescued-~ Every day cotints, DR. PAUL NEUBERGER in :fact ,we do not know how many will haye survived ~ii~~~ea the last winter. A year or so ago,th_~ ·ln-ternational --DR. ERNA KONIG Red Cross_ appealed -for help to them and was willing DR. VICTOR KOERBEL to assist in tranSJlli tting parcels with food and DR. LUJo wmssMANN clothing. That action, however ,met with di:f:ficul ties

because of objections raised by the Blockade Authori-ties in London. ·

I In the present situation 'rescue would be possible. Jewish Relief Organizations in Switzerland are well aoq•ainte~ with the oirc;mmstanoes,as is the delegate o:f the Vl~rld Jewish Oongresa,Dr.Leon Kubowit~i who is now in Geneva, Switzerland. - - ·

We appeal to you to do everything-possible to save this group o:f Jews as;aooording to informa­tion obtained :from refugees who managed to flee,it -is certain that the inmates of the'e oamps will be killed by the Ustashi before the Anny of Liberation will be able to set them free.

May we express in advance our grateful­ness for every action that will be taken toward the speedy rescue of the survivors in these camps.

-- . ~ -_.._ -

~ ASSQ¢1AilON OF vuqosi.Av }EWS JN}HE uN1teo ~T~I~Zlt.oc.

DR. ISAACALCALAY Chief Rabbi of Yugoslavia

HonCJTary Preu<frnt

OTTO-HEINRICH - - -'Honoraiy Chairrrnm ~ -

·EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ,\ND

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

.·ROMAN SMUCER. Pmi<fmt

ALFRED BONDY VicrPttu<f•nt

MANFRED STERJlo'BERG Vict·Pmidtnt

WILLIAM ZUCKER Stcrttary

DR. LEO SUSSMAN Ant. Srmtary ·

GEORGE RADO Ttta1urtr

MEMBERS

DR. PAUL NEUBERGER CLARA ER.ES LEO GOTTLIEB DR. ERNA KONIG DR. VICTOR KOERBEL DR. LUJO WEISSMANN

83 BEEKMAN STREET

~EW. YORIO, N. Y •.

~ r.t.~h~~., ·a~bi.aii 3.1639:1521

. -·2 -. . .

~Beli~ve. us, dear. General .o .'l>wlter,

Respect:f,'Uliy yours, . .

ASSOCIATION OPTIJGOSLAV JmYS IN THE. UNITED STATEq, . .

·~.~·/·.····· Roman~· President

--~~--

la nplJ' ploH _ r,,..,-, .. 279

- -

~ar nr. •nb•rtrtri_, _ - - .

--•.

!hank 70~ tor ,-our leU•r-•f Mareh a, 1944, ta·· -"epoa .. to a, requee\ tor adYioe aad •11CP8Uon• t•-•14 th• loa1'4 ill fonmlaUnc lh reeoue pregrue.

- . _. .

_ 'the propo•*le \o be. eual\te4 '7; the Vorl4 levtth Ooll«l'HI will 'be oareful.17 t\dle4 u4, la uo•r4U•• wt'2l

- ·1ftl' latter, will,,. 1'9«flrU4 •• ffPl'HDU .. the ...... f4 · 70v orPltliaU~• --- --- - -

1 ahalli>ot criur•e• be.plea9edt••rff•lT• ..,. __ 111rJ>Pl .. tnhl •U«.t?•il~1on11 vhtcb-,Ouililq 'ifhb to otf•r, a• our pr01fraa1 take 1h&pe. - - - --

You- goocl whh•• tor the .Uc~" of tlt.• har4 are greatl7 appreclate4.

J>r. Paul leubergtl',

(Slgne:'I) J, W. p,.,111~

'· " •. 1elll• AoU .. •H•H•• DlrH•n

l'rH14ftt, . - -lHMlaUoa of Tqe1bT Jewe la

th• U.i\14 Btate1 1 lac., 381 FO'dl'tb ATeau.e. low Torte, lev Tork.

·-· ... ,-

-.

l_

DR. ISMC ALCAI.AY CHIU'. JlAUJ- OP YUGOSUYJ.4 -

Ho!foWY _Pus~ ~-

ExECU'I1V1! coMMlITEJ; .AND

BOARD OP DIRECTORS

_ orro HEINlllOf , Pumw<r-

'CO!I. PAf.IL.NEUlll!JlGU - c V1a.PlluoJHT

, - -

- AVllAM ]UriJTCH - ~ Via·l'uJm>>n

llOUANSMUCn S1a..rrA.11'

nANOSHU!l!Jl A!J1J'U>n !Jarr.uy

ctAllA EJll!S 'Tu.u<11U

EUA GABAY _ - _ .tism.u<T Tl.wvua

.A1l'llD BONDY Oil. nm. n.!.SOf ING. Banroio fllVND ANOU:W PISCHn IWH!I.A JWHEX ADOLF SCHWINGU UANPllD $TllNB!lG -Oil. U.V !llSWAN , UAll.Y \fUCHEJlCff.UOSTD 01. LUJO WIJSSUANN

COMMlTTEI! POil W.U PJUSONEU

C1AlA !US AVV.W JIJJ)rTCH llOWMi lwt/CQ

__ _::;:_ __ -----------=----~----·-

-~ Executive Of'f'iCe--of' the War Refugee Board Washington, D.o.

March ?, 19~4

Pre-~iClerit

.. - Atteritiori: Mr~ J. W~ Pehle- _

Actin~Executiye, D.irector ->,.~~--··_·_,_ ;: -·--

Pear s1r·: -

We beg to acknowledge receipt of yoi1r letter' bf _ February 8 and thank you f'o:r the opportunity which you --are giving us to cooperate with you for-the relief arid rescue of Jews and other mino1°ity groups thre~teneci with extermination by the enemy. - - ~. -· - -- --

.Ks a represeKtatfv~:group of a col!mluri~tywh1c11 has :mf.fe:red Bl'~at __ losses and) the, problems of vihich are,un .. -doubtedlyfgreater_than tlfose of the<average -il).dividual at th~. hand of the- enemyf the problem of relief and res-_ cue oi' ou~ -co-110:tionals ·and co,;;religfoni"sts _are undou[?ted­ly mo:re: urgent than problems of similar re pre sE1nta ti ve {il'OUps of othei>c n'1tiona:I.ii;y-. 'I'h:J.,s 11rgency J.s justified _by tho rol:tti:cnl and

0

geographicelc_~ituation and the fact that there is still an act_ual possibiH ty for rescue.

As a vohmte:ry assoc!nt!r:.n consisting -Of a 8'.l:"011p of individnals gathored in,this country, we, of course, have no necessary means to ef:f'ect singly and di;rectly relief and rescue of our people to ari extend of any magnitude·.,,, On the other hand from our midst ha-s been formed the Yu .. · ~oslav /:fowf sh Represenhtive tCommittee, affilfgted with the Wot>ld •Jamsh~Coneresg_ v1he:re we are working in coopero.- _ t:J.on W'rffi £He Repronent;a:tive Conunittoes from other European count1'1es and tha World .Jewish Congross.

'Phoro:f'o:re, .Q\ll' mwp:ost:lono, of any speoiffo notion _ ·which we beliovo your Board should _tnko to effect\ll\f.e the policy onnounaed in the FxenutiVl'I Order Ahall be. §l!bm1 t.t~d

.... throuf!h tha \'lo .. rliL~Te1·11vr gon<!:re~s hy th_ o Yugoslc.v Reprfil .. sontativo Colllf'l!tteo. \o. elrove thnt jn that mnnner the wo:rk of you1• P.001•d !!holl be s:!:mplifiod Rnd. muoh unnecessary

i· -

l

I

1'

, _:I

'j , I

--\.':

-;_-~-,---, ------------

.AssocIATioN oF ¥tJaosLA\i ]Ews.1.:NTliEtiNifEt>sTATEs,11ic.. - -- -" -:-·'-' __ o- ·-: --- -, ·_ - - • - - ' -· •

Executive orf:tceof the President March.~, 1944

correspondance directly with many representative ·r;roup~ s'i­milal' to ours be-obviated,-because v.·e feel thaY the-oppor~ . tunity we_ have in aubniitting to you our.ipeas through the World Jewish Congress is ample and adequate~

On behelf of the members of our Asaoci c.t:i on we wish to . exp;•e-s_s_ou-r .:rctitude to the Preaidtnt Qf- tho~\Jnited~Stntes -anci-the mem1)ei•s· of tne Wai• labor B09.rd on: the action tfl.ken · for the resew~ of t!le nino!'ity groups at present in the ·hai:rl of the enemy. Ho nobler and more hmnane task could have been under~Rken and we sin~erely hope that your efforts will meet wtth f•.ill success.

Very l'cC~pectfully youi•'s,

ASSOCIATIOM O~ YlTG6sr..A-t.6Jii:ws rn •I'ttE UJH'l'E:If STfi TEs; ·me! .

oman~-­SccrEitary·

... ·-·---·-··- . -~-·- ___ l.