19> ki AMERICAN JEWISH ta PRESS JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE 100 East 42nd Street. N. Y.C. - LExington 2-5200 YS, FEL M, WARBURG, Kencrary Cotman SERVICE ae Yes Chern rats rennin He MAN Marco F HELLMAN TMS N, ROSENBERG "eB Gol waasen Geonae SAGER Aavecce Teamner Paces ne wolthit'R, ESSER NATHAN C. BELTH, Director ALEXANDER KAHN SB. Bike COLDER INTAMIN HANFT, Annosicte WADIA. ROSENWALD Se area JONAH 3, WIS Cmesige Boor EOWARD MM, WARBURG EISH cooks FOR DOMBDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT ISSUED BY AMERICAM JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE RE REFUGEES ABOARD SS ST, LOVIS June 7, 1939 A cablegram was today sent to the resident of Cuba by the Joint Distritu- tion Committee which reads as follows: "URGENT CABLE TO THE HONORABLE THR PRESIDENT OF THY REPUBLIC OF CUBA EAVANA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WHEN WZ WARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS AS TO DETAILS OF THE POSSIELE ADMISSION INTO OUBA OF TIM REFUGEES ON THE STEAUER SP. LOUIS WERE PROCEEDING IN HAVANA WITH YOUR GOVERIMGN? WE RECEIVED INBORMAPION THAT YOUR GOVERNMEN? CONSIDERED THOSE NEGOTTATIONS LAPSED stop WE RESPECTFULLY HASPEN 70 ASSURE YOU THAT APPRECIATING ‘YOUR DESIRE T0 REACH PROMPTLY A JUST aND HUMANE SOLUPION OF THIS DIF- FICULT PROBLEM WE HAVE SPARED WO EFFORT WERE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNMENTS CONDITIONS stop THIS HAS TODAY BEEN COMPLETED AND WE HAVE AUTHORIZED CHASE MATIONAL BANK HAVANA: MAKE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL 70 YOU ON OUR BEHALF stop WILL PROVIDE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS DSFOSIT ZACH REFUGEE ON BOARD SS ST. LOUIS TO PERMIT ZENIRY INTO CUBA UNDER APPROPRIATE CURAN REGULATIONS ALSO LIKE AMOUN? IN RESPECT EACH REFUGEE SS FLANDERS AND SS'ORDUNA SHOULD HRY ALSO 3S PERMITTED ENTRY CUBA stop CHASE BANK HAS RECELVED FUNDS FROM US AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSE stop IN ADDITION THIS COMMITTEE GUARANTEES ‘DEAD NONE OF THESH REFUGEES WILT, BECOME PUELIC CHARGE TO CUBAN GOVERN wgND stop CONFIDE? THAT VEILE SP. LOUIS SAID TO BR ON WAY BACK 70 GERUANY If IS NOP 700 LATE TO RADIO TO HER 70 RETURN 70 HAVANA stop THIS WE BES YOU TO DO stop WS RESPECTFULLY REQUESP YOUR EXCHLLENCY 70 GIVE THE TOREGOTHG YOUR IMMEDIATE AND FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION. AMERICAN JEWISH JOIVE DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE 100 BAST 42nd Street NEW YORK NY BY JAMES N, ROSENEERG, ACTING CHAIRMAN"4 FB Commenting on the cablegrem the officers of the J.D.C. stated: Up to the lest monent we believed that the discussions which our representatives in Havana were conducting with thoso of tho Cutan Government wore proceeding satisfactorily. We wore prepared to provide the $500 per refugee required by the Cuban Govern- nent, and'we wero hourly expecting a report that the details had boon eatis~ factorily arrenged. In order to give the Cuban Governnent every possible assurance on this subject, we have deposited the required amount with the Chase National Bank, Wo are still hopeful that tho Cuban Governnont may find it possible to admit theso. refugees, but whatever the outcome we will not do unnindful of the asylum which the Republic of Cube hes humanely afforded and still giving to refugees. As to tho refugocs nom in Cute, nono of thom arc public charges. 90% of these rofugocs aro supporting thonselvos with their own funds or with funds supplied by fricnds or roletives, and wo have beon and aro providing for the balance. Tt is noodless for us to express our concern for the people on the high soas, most of whon are women and children; a concorn which as been sherod throughout this country, We still hope that tho matter may de solved to the satisfaction of ell concerned. The 8S. St. Louis cen still bo rocelled to Cuba. Alfred Jarctzki, Jr. Chairman, Committee on Refugee Aid in Central ond South Amcrica Joseph C. Hyman, Executive Director, J.D.0, David M. Brosslor, Vice-Chairmen, J.D.0. 1, Hawin Goldwasser, Treasurer, J.D.C.