General Report No. 2 - JDC - Archives

V 1
22.13
Front II« D. T/oldiam, Vienna.
Tas Jcint Distribution Gonnittoe, HCTT Ycrlc.
HIF0RIIAT1VE
AT?m!ISTnATlC! T COI5!ITT3E
11/4/21.
Uth fctcbor 1S21.
#1633
Subjects GEHER&L REPORT IIO. 2 (Follor-ins initial report dated Sopt»13th
Ito. 1501)
This report is subr&ttcd in sectional forn.
sscncn 1 - AHIIETISTRATICI:
0FFIC2 ATT1HIISTRATICII After Q week or sc of preoccupation with Council
Meetings after ny arrival in Vienna, on Se$ enber
12th, I found it necessary to pay sens attention
to the office adnfnlstration. In the short'tine that had elapsed since
cur removal, fron Paris the operation of our office had not yet attained
the desired saoothness, but before I left Viennr. on October 1st considerable
process had been nade in this direction, and I feel confident that by
the tine !ar« Rosenborg arrives he will find the office running quite snoothly.
I an somewhat distezclbesS •--. to learn fron Iliss T5aynton that she is
still suffering frcn oar trouble which seriously interferes vrith hor sleep,
and she really is in a condition vrMoh rr.kes a -vrcek's rest imperative, rteccuse,
however, there is no one here who cculd assuno her work* she will have to
continue rzcridxig steadily until soseone can T o found to relieve her. It is
to be regretted that yc u delayed sending Tlisa Uerccwitz.
After rxv return within a week or ten days I plan to {30 tc rr.rsr.rr and
renain there with as little interruption as possible until after Ir. Shohan's
return, rearing this tine I expect to {rive very close" attention to the detail
srork in both Child Car-inn and lledicc—Sanitary Departnonts.

GEIIEKAL REPORT BO.2 - 2 - #1633
SECTICIT 11 - CHUT CARHTG
C3JECT OF VISIT On October 2nd I went to Berlin primarily en rcutc for
"T^UERLHT" the Kowno Conference> .and Riga. Incidentally, however*
I desired to learn what the Cormn Government is doing
in the way of providing for its war orphans. Accompanied by Ilr. Shohan I spent
an afternoon with the assistant to the ?Iinister of Labor and with her visited
several hones in the pocror sections of T.orlin in which orphans.are subsidised
by the Government, and received very comprehensive in-
CARE CF "TAR formation of '.That the Gcvernmont is doing. It is note-
Orphans worthy that the a.^o limit set by the Government is 10,
Ift OKU y>l^ GOVERITMEHT* and between 14 and 10 provision is made for trade training.
.... '.J~- •'_,; j'_ The systen of vocational guidance is crude, but there is evidenco
cf an earnest sense of responsibility as well as a progressive liberal policy
in the caro and education of orphans.
Allowances given are all on a graded per capita basis, dependinc
both upon the locality anfl tho previous condition rf the parents. Thene allowances
were quite.adequate when first established, but in the light of the diminished
value cf the mark, is now only about "two-thirds of tho amount of the
minimum standard. A discretionary fund cf 100,000,000 (01TE HUITRIP IHLLICF)
narks has been appropriated by the Government and distributed among the district
offices, which is used as a supplementary allowance in cases where private resources
arc net obtainable. The Government officials throughout the country
are assisted by carefully selected representative persons, constituting advisory
committee.
If you are interested I shall bo glad to send you a detailed report
together with official printed matter pertaining to the subject.

G7USTAL REPORT H0.2 - 3 « iUCZS
SECTIOn 11 - 2 -
CHILI? CARE TEPARTIEIIT The organization of this department has progressed
rapidly. Some indication of this you have received
from copies of .reports sent currently fron the TTarsaw office.. Pending. tLo
adoption and issue of regular monthly report forms, we have made efforts to
secure information from the district offices. From T.ialystok we have th&
following?-
'JIAL7STCK T*here are 1,078 orphans
of these 44 are 14 years of ar.o (srao of them not war orphmu)
134 " 13 " n "
453 are not war orphans
76 are under 13, causes of whose parents death is
net known
707
leaving 371 known war orphans under 13yeais cf ago
7ou have authorized us to care for 400, whioh apparently
will more than satisfy the needs of this district.

GgTISRAL REPORT IIP. 2 - 4 - £iP35
SECTICII 11 -3-
DREST-LITCTSK Vsr. Shohan visited this district recently. He held a meeting
with the Hebrew teachers and following that with the Yiddish
teachers. He organised a. Committee of nine,.consisting of
Hebrew teachers, Yiddish teachers, two wonen and one public spirited citi^'n,
hired a secretary, discharged the two women vistors and selected another woman
in their place. This Gcnmittee has full charge of Brest-Litowsk and.nine towns
in.the neighborhood. He established similar committees in the other three
3;:M2l&BS of tho Brest—Litcwsk district, - ICobrin, Pruzany and Tlodava.
Itr- Lomazewsky continues as our Child Care representative for tho whole of
the district responsible to TTarsaw. Each county conmittoe is to have a Secretary
and each Secretary selected is to be a school teacher familiar with Child
care problems. There are at present 5fi0 children under care, whose records
are being analyzed.
Incidentally he reports that at a general meeting hold with
the representative people of Brest-Litcwsk he succeeded in arousing their interest
in the question cf finding suitable quarters for the re-emigres now
located under unspeakable conditions in the synagogues, and obtained their
promise of 3 million marks towards the purchase and.repair of a large building
to accommodate sixty families. The balance required will bo 10 million marks.
A good part of this, Dr. Eahn, with whom we discussed tho matter, is prepared
to furnish in the form of a lean, after consulting Ilr. Landosco as Jo the particular
form this lean shall take. This arousing cf the canmunity is" significant
in the light of my reference to Drest-Litcwsk, in letter ITo. !49fi of
September 14th, and ny suggestion for the establishment of a department for
fund raising organization. Brest-Litowsk as you know, is half demolished, and
is one of the most impoverished of all tho communities, and if funds can bo
raised here in this simple direct method it is reasonable to expect the larger
cities like Warsaw and Cracaw etc. to raise considerable funds if properly
stimulated and organized by cur exports.

GENERAL REPORT HO, 2 - 5 - #lr,33
SEOTICI! 11 -4 -
CRACCIT (TTEST GALICIA) Here we have as yet no statistics of the entire
number of orphans. The following figuroa- are
in our possession:-
Humber of orphans under core ............ 576
of the 330 in Cracow City
222 are up to 12 years cf age (inclusive)
77 " 14 " " n
39 " 14 and 17 " n
130 are direct war orphans
35 are war epidemic orphans
2 are pogrom orphans
leaving a balance of .........159 under care who do not come within our
category of war orphans. Cf these 25 are not orphans at all. In some
cases the Father ^s disabled, in others they are able to.work. Of these
159 there are 50 whose parent died before the war. T here was'no representativehere
to control the work which from the above is obvious. TTe have
appointed a lfrs» Regina Zimmerman, the wife of an Engineer who has been actively
identified with the care of the children to serve as our representative, and
who impressed me as a capable woman. Each case is to be studied, those
not coming within, our category especially, and those living with their parents
will be dropped. An inspector will be sent from TTarsaw to help 15rs. Zimmerman
organize the work.
The conference which we contemplated holding in TTarsaw of
representative people interested in orphan care I have decided to postpone
until llr. Shohan's return from America, particularly in view of the uncertainty
surrounding our policies as indicated in my questions in letter #1496 end your
recent cables autherizinf committment for only a limited period. In the
meantime however, the work will proceed everywhere.

CENTRAL REPORT HO. 2 - 6 - #1633
SECTIOH 11 -5-
CCirFEREtTCE I met IS?. Landesco and the other gentlemen on their return
ifr'KOljtoO" from Kowno a little crestfallen that they had not succeeded
in establishing a satisfactory modus Vivendi with the community
It appears that Ilr. Rosenblum repudiated the arrangement to which he had agreed
in Vienna, having failed to receive the support of his constituency to that
agreement. They realized that to accept our plan would deprive the Ilationalrat
of the necessary funds to maintain their organization, whioh would involve them
in the discharge of practically all their employees, and not being strong
enough as yet to raise funds either by taxation or voluntary contribution, it
threatened tho destruction of the Haticnalrat.
The conference finally ended with the understanding that the .
Ilationalrat would invest Ifr. Saloveitchik with full power to deal with us at
the meeting to be hold in Berlin on Tuesday or TTednesday, where this gentleman
is to bo at that time. Messrs. Kahn, Landesco and I will be.there for the
meeting. TTo notified you to this effect in cable Ho. 107 dated 14th October.
A full report of the Conference will ror.ch you in due course.
Should we enter into a satisfactory arrangement tho Child
Bare work will be inmediately organized.

GgTBRAL REPORT HO.2 - 7 - #IC35
SEGTIcn 11 ~6~
RIGA I telegraphed I3ir«.Awin of Riga to meet lb*.* Shohan in "owi:o
for the purpose of going over the whole Child Caring situation
with hint Mr. Shoha-a reported verbally to me that he had n satisfactory
conference with Hr. Awin.and had given him instructions with regard to
the measures he should take with reference to the care of orphans for
whom we have assumed responsibility. Detailed reports of all of this
will be sent to you in due course*

GEIT'SiAT. REPORT IIO. 2 - 0 - -^loTo
SECTION 11 -7-
ORPHANS TO The Hilfsvcrein der Deutsohen Juden has indicated a dosi:^
C-ERI1ANI to place at our disposal the sum of about .300,000 German
marks for war orphans. This amount I understand is a
donation from a private source. Dr. Ben-. Nathan, their Secretary, suggested
that we assume the care of as rr.ny as 100 new children pending xheir f Ircnncial
adoptjcn in America. This I indicated would not be practicable and stated
that we could only assume responsibility for as many new children as this amount
would cover and only for as long a period as funds would last» and subsequently
that the Hilfsverein would have to assume responsibility for continuing their
care and contributing fresh funds. Dr. ISahn promised to take this up.with
the Hilfsverein later. He informed me also that in addition the Hilfsverein
proposed to bring into Germany about 200 ohildren to be officially adopted
up to working age by private families. I assured Dr. Hahn that we wcuid
gladly co-operate in this direction and suggested that he arrange for a
Conference with Herr Simon on my next visit to Berlin, at whicif^Ms ratter
could be definitely settled.
A

-9-
GENERAL REPORT HO. S. #1635
SECTION III - MEDICAL
X-RAY MACHIHES I had written to Dr. Plotz as per enclosed letter
PURCHASE (Ec. Ho. l) and received a wire from him as follows:
"Received your letter September twentysixth stop
pertaining X-Ray machine advise wait Grey^letters
before making definite arrangements Doctor Shohan".
I also received a wire from Mr. Grey dated September
26th as follows;
B X-Bay machines and spare parts selected and ordered
by Dr. plotz after conference Hamburg with Plaut
of our purchasing committee and two experts.
After great delay we arranged purchase at ten percent
below specification figures and less five
percent export duty. Understand you have ordered
Shulke & Mayr delay delivery which was to be on
October 1st. please advise. Would prefer any
communication be sent through me unless matter
taken out of my hands. Writing."
Mr. Grey was altogether mistaken? we did not order Shulke & Mayr to
delay delivery, nor did I intend to take, the matter out of Mr. Grey's
hands- In order to avoid any confusion or conflict of orders I
wired Mr. Grey to meet me in Berlin and also wired Dr- Shohan (who
had already left for Erlangen) not .to modify the orders in the
hands of Reiniger, Gebbert & Schall A.G. Before leaving Vienna I
reoeived a letter from Mr. Grey dated ?>6th September, confirming
his telegram, copy of which you will find also enclosed (Enc .#2).
After my arrival in Berlin I received the following telegram
from Headquarters, containing the essentials in Br- plotz's letter
which arrived in Vienna subsequent to my departure:
"plotz states Schulke European representatives plaut
also he visited two skin specialists Germany who said
Apex machines made by Reiniger Gebbert & Schall best
for our purpose and they suggested additional equipment
be used."
Copy Of this letter is also enclosed (Enc. #3). nothing that
either Dr. plotz or Mr. Grey had to say in any way changed my
views with regard to the measures that must be taken in the matter
of properly shipping and operating X-Ray machines*.
We found that none of the machines have as yet been completed
and will not be ready before the end of this month. We afiso found
that although some accessories had been ordered for diagnostio
purposes, these were not complete and we felt impelled to place
an order for additional parts at an additional cost of 18,934,30
German marks. The changes in the items together with prices appear
in the enclosed schedule. (Enc. #4).

-10-
GENBRAL REPORT NO. 2. #1635
SECTION III - 2-
I was permitted by Messrs. Reiniger Gebbert & Schall to consult
uheir reoords and found a statement on the copy of the order in
r.heir hands that Schulke & Mayr are to receive 20$ discount, a-jd in .
addition 5$ commission; this does not gitae with Mr. Grey's. und3rstanding
that we were to recei-re only 10$.. The matter of discount
doeB not seem to be clear- In a letter from Schulke & Mayr dated
June 16th appears the following underlined paragraph:
"Wir bemerken ausdrucklich, dass wir der Pabrikations
firma d|eser Apparate (Reiniger,Gebbert & Schall)
mitteilten, dass die Apparate fur Danzig bestimmt
sind. AUS diesem Grunde erhalten wire 15$ der
Hartescala dazu und des Wasserphantoms. Wir wurden
Ihnen dieaen Rabatt, ehenfalls in Anreohnung bringen
und fur uns keinerlei Kommission Verlanger da es sich
hier urn eine Gefalligkeit handelt; im Gegenteil sollten
wir vom pretse noch etwas herunter handeln koennen, so
werden wir das in Ihrem Interesse tun. Es ist also
dringend notwendig, daas der Fabrikany nicht erfahrt,
dass die apparate^fur New York bestimmt sind, da
sonst die Preise erheblich hoher waren. Sie wollen
also den Auftrag gegebenenfalls direkt an uns senden."
In another letter, of August 25th, they write as follows;
"Zum Schluss freut es uns, Ihnen noch mitteilen zu
konnen dass wir ausser dem gunstigen Inlandspreise
noch lOfo Rabatt bei der Fabrik durchgedruckt haben
und geben wir uns gern der Hoffning nun, Sie mit
diesem Abschluss in jeder Hinsicht .Zufriedengestellt
zu haben."
I shall make the necessary inquiries in this direction and clear
this up. The bills of lading covering the machines to Poland cannot
indicate their Polish destination because of the German Government's
prohibition of export licenses to that country. There are two al*
ternatives. One for us to request exemption on the ground of the
philanthropic purposes to which these machines are to be put, the
other to adopt the suggestion made by the factory and the forwarding
agents that the machines be shipped to Danzig without specifying
their ultimate destination. In view of the advisability of having
the transaction completed through Messrs. Schulke & Mayr, I propose
to"leave the method of delivery to them particularly as I am averse
vto committing the J.D.c. to any evasion of Government regulations.
The infermation we have secured regarding the cost and other
details of forwarding I have sent on to Mr. Grey in Paris with the
suggestion that he pass same on to Schulke & Mayr- The original
plan of shipping the machines via Hamburg appears not only impracticable
but more.expensive. Of this Mr. Grey himself was convinced
when he studied the situation with us in Berlin.

-11-
GEKERAL REPORT HO. 2. #1633
SECTION III - 3-
DR. SHOHAN In spite of the good impression Dr. Shohan made on ^e 7
considered it wise to obtain the judgment of Dr. Foci
and Miss Berger, and a day or two after I had sent my letter fi^b^o
I telegraphed to Dr. Pool and Miss Berger for their opinion. 1 was
disturbed to receive the following telegram from Dr. Pool which was
later confirmed by a telegram from Miss Berger;
"Cannot recommend Shohan X-Ray work inadequate because of
ignorance machinery technecalities stop unbalanced personality
plays politics is inclined to shirk work."
Though Dr. Shohan possesses peculiar mannerisms and may, because
of his interest in Zifenist activities have antagonised Dr. pool and
others, my close association with him leads me to believe that he can
render the service we require efficiently. When I consulted
Mr. Sohmidt about Dr. Shohan, whom he has known for years and whom
he had seen at work in Palestine, he approved -y selection and gave
no indication that he knew of any dissatisfaction that Dr. Shohan had
aroused in that country. In spite of my confidence in Dr. Shohan's
ability to carry out the designated work effectively, I wired you as
followsj
"Our letter 1545 replying my request for information Pool
wires unfavorable report Doctor Shohan nevertheless be-s
lieve him capable efficiently direct our roentgenolog
work stop nevertheless do not urge ny reccr-.ondation his
appointment stop imperative appoint such director am
seeking local man stop entire situation requires my
personal attention stop visiting factory arlanger stop
machines will not be completed for several weeks although
delivery promised October 1st stop arranging all details
continuing to utilize Schulke & Mayr."
I have retained Dr. Shohan to carry out the work until the SOth of
this month. Because of the unquestioned need for very close attention
to this natter I decided to forego my trip to Kowno and Riga,
particularly as I felt that the Wiina situation could well be
handled by so strong a group as Messrs. Landesco, Kahn, Schweitzer
and Shohan. I visited the factory at Erlangen and rer.ained in
Germany a few days longer in order to find a roentgenologist to take
up the work after Br. Shohan's departure. I have already entered
into preliminary negotiations with Dr. Zollshan of Karlsbad, who
was highly recommended to me by Dr. K^hn. Although an expert X-Ray
specialist he is better known as an anthropologist.
Dr. Shohan has thus far been helpful and has been thorough,
painstaking, and businesslike. He has visited Sowno and, Biga and has
been instructed thereafter to proceed to Warsaw and until October
20th do what he can in preparing for the establishment of laboratories
in that city, wilna and Bialystok.

-12-
fiENERAL REPORT MO. 2. #1633
SECTION III- 4-
SUPPLIES - On 16th September we received a letter from the
AMERICAN RED CROSS American Red Cross containing a list of supplies
in their possession and asking us as soon as
possible to select such supplies as we could use in accordance with
its obligation. Bei;ag prevented from goin,r to Paris on account of
the local Railway strike I telegraphed to 3r. plotz to call on the
American Red Cross with a view to making the necessary selection.
Since then I have received information from a number of our Medical
Commissioners that all of the drugs and medical supplies we need
can be secured locally and probably at a very much lower cost than
the prices that are likely to be established by the American Red
Cross. I am now securing local estimates of all such commodities
and with such information on hand intend to call on the American
Red Cross in Paris after visiting Mr. Rosenberg in London with a
view to ensuring our getting the supplies at reasonable rates. If
I should find that the prices established by the A.R.C. are substantially
higher than those obtaining locally I contemplate proposing
that the balance due us be returned in cash instead of kind. The
records here indicate that we did not reserve the right to receive
cash as an alternative in the event that we should not desire to
avail ourselves of their supplies, nevertheless, I believe that
the matter warrants a more careful investigation.
It is to be keenly regretted that the routine of the work of
the Medico-Sanitary Department has not yet been organized sufficiently,
to ensure current "and satisfactory reports from the districts.
We are therefore giving our attention to the matter of formulating
monthly report forms covering receipts and expenditures, distribution
and supplies of drugs, progress of repair and rebuilding of
baths, repair and equipment of hospitals and disease control.
I plan to be in a position to £ive all these administrative
details my personal attention immediately after my arrival in
Warsaw towards the end of this month.

-13-
GEHEEAL REPORT HO. 2. #1653
SECTIOK 17- ROUMANIA
ROUMAKIA - In addition to acting as Administrator for
ADMIHISTRATION ETC. Roumania, Mr. Lewis will directly represent tho
Child Caring department and the Medico-Saritaiy
department. He left for his seat of operations on OctobBr Iii. wi'^ri
instructions to relieve Mr. Rubinstein of all responsibility for .711V
other than Reconstruction work, and it is understood that he is to
take under care of 103 children plus S§ refugee children. Tho f-jnd
still in our hands for the self-support of war widows he will continue
to use for this purpose, but only after inquiry into the results thus
far obtained with widows already assisted.
RECALL OF From Vienna I received the following telegram:
MR. RAVAGE
"Ragave here presented his side of the case which
seems quite justifiable stop most anxious fulfil
what he understood to be three months contract
with J.D.C. can you use his services for remaining
month stop otherwise thinks only fair should
be paid full three months salary stop wire your
decision."
To which I replied as follows? 1
"Desire treat Ravage fairly stop regardless
possible merit his side his recall dictated by
discord injuriously effecting work stop authorize
payment his salary for three months stop
let him come Berlin for interview if agreeable."
I returned to Vienna to meet Dr. Plotz who could not come to Berlin.
Although I have been back in Vienna for two days I have not yet seen
Mr. Ravage. As I indicated in the above reply to Vienna office,
regardless of the merits of his contentions, in the lights of the
differences existing between him and Mr. Rubinstein, the Council
felt It necessary to recall him. We do not propose to utilize his
services any further. I regret to have had this unsatisfactory
experience with Mr. Ravage.
I do not anticipate that Mr. Lewis will be required in Roumania
for more than a few months. He has been instructed to send Headquarters
a report on the Medico-Sanitary situation preliminary to
the formulation of a program, has received clear instructions regarding
the principles on which work along these lines is to be undertaken,
and the policies governing our prospective appropriation. It
is"furthermore definitely understood that ho is not to have authority
over workers of the fiefugee Department, but is to cooperate with them
In: his position of general representative of the Organization and as
direct representative of the Child Oaring and Medico-Sanitary
Departments.

-14fiEltol^L
REPORT HO. 2 #1635
SECTION V - MEDICO-SANITARY
MEDICO-SANITARY This Department has made some progress but there hg.o
DEPARTMENT been some delay in the organization of the work
assigned to Dr. Michlin, who found it possible to KO
to Warsaw only last week, to take up his new duties. I had him come
to Vienna to familiarize himself with the report on Czecho-Slovp.kla
with a view to starting work in the Sub-Carpathian region. A3 you
sill have learned from the Minutes of the Meetings of the Executive
Council, Mr- R-ieur and Dr. Frenkel reported that the Munkaos commun.-'t.T
had submitted new plans for the repair and equipment of the proposed
hospital of a much more elaborate character, involving a much larger
expenditure than the amount originally submitted to us and on the
basis of which we had recommended to you, and had secured from you,
the appropriation of §10,000. We had Dr. Frenkel return to Munkaos
with definite instructions that the appropriation could only be made
on the basis of the plan originally submitted, unless the community
itself were prepared to raise the additional funds necessary for tho
enlarged plan. On my return to Vienna I found a letter from the
Spitalskomitde des Versines "Chevra Kadischa" in which they claim
that because we have failed to give them the necessary support, the
Government declined to turn over the hospital building to them. Copy
letter herewith (Enc. #5),
In reply to this letter I sent the following telegram:
"Bezugnehmend Ihren ^riof fuenften Oktober stop Sie sind
faicht genau unterrichet stop wir haben nicht zurueckgezogen
Versprechen Zuwei3ung zehntausend Dollars four
Spital stop bestehen nur auf urspruengliche Bedingungen
betreffs Gemeinde Anteil stop werden Ihnem leisten solche
moralische Untersteutzung welche notwendig soin wird stop
nach Frenkls Rueckkehr lassen Sie ihn uns verstaendlgen
welche Mittel wir annegmen sollen."
As soon as Doctor Frenkel returns from the vacation which
apparently he must have taken with Mr. Rieur's consent, (unknown to
us; I propose to go myself or delegate someone to visit Munkaos, or
Prague if necessary, to help them secure the building.
We have been somewhat embarrassed in our plans for work in this
territory. My original plan was to transfer Dr. Wnndkos to Cracaw
and in addition to give him supervision over Sub-Carpathia, having
in mind the appointment of a local physician to serve an his assistant
in that territory, in order to do this I planned
DISCONTINUANCE to assign Dr. Olkon to Brest-Litowsk in Dr. Wendkos 1
OF SERVICES place. *"i wired Br, Olkon to that effeot at Chateau
DR. OLKON Guyon, but received a reply from him thnt he declined
to accept that assignment. Shortly after we
received an appeal for work in Georgia, which was transmitted to you,
and having in mind the possibility of receiving instructions from
you to send a representative to Georgia, I wired Dr. Olkon asking
him if he would accept such assignment if it were offered.

-15-
GENERAL REPORT NO. 2 #1633
I received the following reply:
SECTION V- 2-
"On favorable terms would accept assignment Georgia
will be Paris Tuesday"
I was displeased with Br. Olkon*s+attitude in establishing terac and
therefore decided that it would bg°the best interests of the work Lo
have him sever his connections with us, so I telegraphed to him as
follows;
"Acting under our understanding Warsaw have decided
to discontinue your services stop letter follows."
confirming that by letter, copy enclosed (Sncl, No. 6).
When in Berlin I accidentally ran into ^r. Olkon who was then
on his way to i£owno to gather together his personal effects, and had
a long conversation with him in which he explained that it was not
his desire to leave our service but that he was prompted to decline
the Brest-Litowsk assignment because he construed it as a graoeful
means that I employed to have him quit. I told him that he placed
a wrong construction upon my request. I did not feel it necessary
te resort to a roundabout method, that I had spoken frankly to him
in Warsaw and that if I had desired him to withdraw I would have told
him s» very definitely. He admitted that in declining to accept the
appointment he had disobeyed orders and that he had therefore virtually
read himself out of our employ.
Believing that he was honest in his desire to be of service I
agreed to consider the question of having him return to Lithuania in
accordance with a suggestion he made to me, but only on condition
that he would be acceptable to the Lithuanian community. This we
could only determine after the conference was held there. I therefere
instructed him to remain in Berlin until the end of the Conference
so as not to embarrass our negotiations. Since then Messrs.
Landesco and Kahn report that Br. Olkon is absolutely persona non
grata there and that it would be inadvisable to have him return
under any circumstances. Moreover because of subsequent information
that we received from you that arrangements are being made to return
Mr. Hyman here, whom we intend to place in Lithuania,
ASSIGNMENTS it will not be necessary to appoint a Medical Com-
MEDICAL missioner there as resident worker. In view of all
this I have telegraphed Dr. Olkon that we will
accept his resignation.
Because of the transfer of Dr. Michlin and Dr. Syrkin, Cracow
at the present time is without a Medical Commissioner.
, I am contemplating asking Br. Golub to assume responsibility
for Brest-Litowsk as well as Rowno, particularly as he reports that
his new assistant, Dr. syrkin, {brother of our Dr. Syrkin) who was
recently appointed as his assistant seems to be doing his work very
well, and if he makes good Dr. Golub will be relieved sufficiently to
enable him to give Brest-Litowsk the attention necessary.

-16-
CfoKERAL RfiPORT NO. 2. #165:-)
SECTION V- 5°
Dr. Golub furthermore informs me that he has requested another
year's leave of absence from the U.S. Immigration Service, so as to
enable him to remain with us for that period. An unofficial wo:"t
which he has received from Boston indicates that this request is
likely to be approved. This is very pleasant information as I
regard him as a very valuable worker.
WILNA You have been informed that a Conference has been
BE'BSQO-SANITARY held in wilna on Medico-Sanitary work and that the
CONFERENCE program is now under way. I told Mr. Schmidt that
I was not altogether satisfied with the concession
that he made to the Wilna community with reference to the graded
appropriation of ^5,500. whiah he made for continuing subventions,
and an additional grant of $1,000. partly to cover the diminution
in the valuta of the appropriation which wilna had been receiving
for Medical work pending the adoption of a definite program. I
pointed out to him that before holding the Conference he should have
first communicated with me and he should have done likewise before
agreeing to make good the deficit sustained, as above described, in
the monthly subvention. He admitted that he had acted hasitly and
"promised to be good" in the future. Apparently it has been the
custom on the part of various workers to exceed their authority from
time to time. £his illustrates the emphasis I have laid upon the
need for more definite control on the part of Headquarters. As a
matter of fact the 800,000 marks above referred to was granted by
Mr. Schmidt without Br. plotz*s authority. I believe, however, that
the situation warranted such support. My objection was to the
method in which it was furnished.
MDW/FES
(signed) MORRIS D» ^ALDMAN.