UNITED AMERICAN SPANISH COMMITTEE
83 McAllister Street
San Francisco
Hemlock 8178
September 1940
Dear Friend,
When the Hitler invasion began thousands of men and women of antifascist ideals had
already taken refuge in France. Austrian, German, Spanish, Czech, Polish, Dutch, Belgian
and Italian are herded together there in concentration camps or live in extreme poverty.
Jewish people from Warsaw have met others from Austria in the wretched prisons and
into their overcrowded room have been flung Spaniards, who fought for years in an
endeavor to prevent this evil happening. We have been instrumental in rescuing many
thousands But the problem grows; we cannot take a Spaniard and leave a Czech. We cannot
ask a man his nationality when he is driven from his home by the savagery of war,
and is in hourly danger of being handed to the anti-semitic, fascist persecutors from
whom he hoped he had escaped.
We, more fortunate than our brothers in Europe, must do what we can to save these
courageous men and women and their little children. Hitler and Mussolini have demanded
that they be handed over to Nazi prisons and firing squads
ARE YOU GOING TO LET THIS HAPPEN?
American opinion is important in Europe now. Our letter campaign halted the drive
to send the Spaniards back to Franco. Thousands of letters begging that Red Cross
funds be used, resulted in help being sent to Argeles Camp, where men of every nationality
are herded on the open beach. We implore you: Write to the President and to Mr. Cordell
Hull asking them to intercede with the French and German Governments on behalf of
the International and Spanish refugees, and urging that American ships be sent to
save them.
Help does reach them. We send funds by means of drafts on the Amalgamated Bank of New York to our representative
in France. We supply medical help and milk. We obtain visas and transport the refugees
to friendly countries. Will you help us to carry on this humanitarian work? $150 will
transport and rehabilitate a man; $100 will care for 20 children for a month; $5 will
give a package of food to a family; $1 may save a child's life. What can you spare
that these innocent little war victims may live?
Yours sincerely,
T. Addis
Vice-chairman
Winifred Baker
Executive Secretary
Make checks payable to
UNITED AMERICAN SPANISH AID COMMITTEE:
not to individuals
