THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
A , Message to American Jews
The Jews in the
By Ambassador Henry M. Morgenthau
War Zone
The following is the substance
of an interview had with Ambas-
sador Morgenthau by a repre-
sentative of the American Hebrew.
You know. - began Mr. Mor-
enthau, "there is a lock on my
lips and it will be very difficult
for me to say anything- officially
on the many problems that arc
affecting- the Jews in Europe, and
particularly in Turkey. It has
been my privilege to come into
close touch with conditions in
Turkey, but I feel that public ex-
pression of my views at this time
might harm the good relation>
that now obtain between the
Turkish officials and the Jews ill
the ( )ttoman Empire.
"I know little about the condi-
tion of the Jews in Europe, as I
merely passed thr o ugh the con-
tinent and had neither the time
nor the opportunity to make my-
self familiar with the situation
there. But in the 'Turkish Em-
pire, matters are different.
"When the war broke out the
foreigners in Turkey became
panic striken. hider the circum-
stances, it was 110 more than my
duty to take all foreigners under
the protection of the [nited
States. The Jews, who were citi-
zens of Turkey, naturally receiv-
ed. the full benefit of their civil
and political rights. I■ 1lt What is
more important, the Turks. who
have always felt kindly toward
ews, soon strengthened their
kinship when they realized the
Jewish loyalty and devotion to
that country. In Constantinople
today there are hundreds upon
hundreds of Jewish widows and
orphans of those who fell on the
battlefield.
"One of the best deeds per-
formed by American lews to aid
their brethren in Turkey was the
sending of the l'nited States bat-
tleships to deliver relief in mon-
ey, food and clothing and to
transport suffering. Jews from the
war area. The sight of these war-
ships from the great Republic ill
the Western Hemisphere did
much in influencing the Turkish
officials to greater justice to the
Jews in the Empire. It was to
them a representation of the re-
spect and attention received by
the Jews in America.
"I explained to the Turkish
people, \yi) admired • what A„1--
erican Jews had done, and how
thoroughly American they were,
that if they granted their Jewish
citizens the same opportunity for
civil and military service. parti-
cipation in their government, and
full rights in every respect. they
would tied the Jews as loyal
Turks as we, in this country, and
loyal Americans. So, too, in
Ciermany, the aid given ,by such
men as Ralhevan, Bailin and
Max Warburg has completely
changed the attitude of the high
(;erman officials toward our peo-
ple.. The same is true of Eng-
land." .
-
,
3
"What are your views 011 the
Statement on Jewish Position.
Congress movement?" Mr. 11)1-
The minister of the Interior, A.
trenthan was asked.
N. Chvostoff, recently received
I am unable to express an opin- some representatives of the press,
ion," he replied, "as I have not
in order to enlighten them on the
heard both sides. I expect that
I will lie afforded an opportunity pr(fent political situation.' Heal-
he
to describe to those interested in ing with the JeWiSh question
the Congress 'movement the ex- said :
"The Ministry is now trying to
act condition of affairs in Turkey
and the mental attitude of the extend in all directions the laws
1)urkish officials toward the Jews, applying to the legal position of
and particularly- toward Zionism.". the Jews, which. were laid down
-
Nn measure of happiness is so great, as that which comes to
,
.hose who have learned the blessing of giving.
And now is a time to give-
1 u give as you have never given before—
For in the history of civilization, no such
cause for giving has ever presented it-
self—
Public meeting at
Arcadia Hall,
April 4, 1916,
Dr. Stephen S. Wise,
of New York.
Other speakers
to be announced
later.
It isn't a question of taking from your income, you must take
from your principal.
Give until you have within yourself a degree of satisfaction that
will spell,
"I HAVE DONE MY DUTY"
DETROIT COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF
OF JEWISH WAR SUFFERERS.
S
Offices, 314 Washington Arcade. Phone 7602
"Will You not give a timely
message to the American Jews as
a result of your experience in
Turkey?" was the parting .. ques-
tion.
"Yes, if von can call this a mes-
sage, - Morgenthau added,
take it down verbatim:
"This is the time whim all
Jews, no matter where they`' may
lire or in what country the
have accepted citizenship, to
prove their supreme loyalty and
allegiance to the country of their
adoption. This does not preclude
their also demonstrating sincere
devotion and adherence to their
relit.4-itm. I have found that I re-
ceived much greater admiration
and respect than some others who
were lukewarm in their adherence
to, or denied altogether, their re-
ligion. -
by my predecessor, Prince Schts-
cherb; toff. All Jews yvho have
received the right of residence in
the newly opened towns have also
the riht now to carry on their
business in these towns, as men
who have the right of domicile
anywhere must also be allowed
the opportunity of being able to
maintain themselves there. I
shall not allow a discrepancy to
exist between the policy of the
ministry and the practice of the
individual governors. The local
authorities are obliged to con-
form with the instructions of the
Nlinistry. "The various cases of
misunderstanding that have oc-
curred in the provinces can now
be regarded as disposed of and
will not occur again. - Chvo-
stoff also promised that "no dis :-
turbances, whether in the nation-
almlitical economic or social
sphere, will be permitted by the.
I consider this my principal task. -
Such is the Minister's state-
ment to the press representatives,
but the facts tell a different story . .
The same addressed an
inquiry to the Nlinistry. of justice,
whether the Jews who. on the
ground of the decree of August
13th, possess the.right domf-
cile in all towns of the Empire,
may buy immovable property-
there. The opinion that the Nlin-
ister of the Interior expressed to
the Nlinistry of justice was that
this question must be answered
in the negative. The Nlinistry of
Justice declared itself in agree-
ment with this, so that the pub-
lication of a declaration to this
effect may shortly- be expected.
Organization of Self-Help.
The most important Jewish re-
lief Society., after the Jewish com-
mittee for the Support of the War
'titterers, is one that was formed
shortly before the war by a group
of Jewish doctors, and which set
itself the task of looking after the
health of the Jews. .\t the recent
annual meeting of the Society,
Sehwarzman gave a de-
tailed report on the activity of
the society. during the past year,
which consisted in fighting
against the hunger of the Jewish
ingitives, in providing medical
and hygienic aid, and in the car('
of children. So far altogether
I9 1,11 - M Jewish fugitives have en-
ioined the help of the society, and
it has distributed about one mil-
lion free dinners. Ill :fs centers
the society. founded out-patients'
departments, and in I .4 towns,
hospitals. The principal region
of the medical activity was the
neighborhood of \Vilna a nd N ov o-
Svenzianv. )fficials of the society .
accompanied the fugitives along
the Whole of the rather lengthy
:ournev. The out-patients' depart-
ments were usi.'d 1)\';0,00n Jew-
ish sick fugitives. .\11110St per
cent of till' "evacuated" were
children. The society could only
look after - the children who were
still too young for school. For
them children's' homes were es-
tablished in 1:1 places, with ac-
commodation for 6,000 children.
.\t present the society has '1.9 such
homes, with 1,90 children. The
whole of this activity, extending
over 18 provinces. and compris-
ing 1.21 institutions, was carried
out by l■ 9 workers (doctors, in-
structors, etc.) The expendi-
ture of the society' in 191:i was
11 roubles. The report also
gave a description of the incred-
ibly unhygienic conditions that
prevailed during. the wholesale
transport, and the consequences
I if WhiCh Were epidemic diseases
eecially
among the children ).
T
Dr. Dembo stated that the fugi-
tives. in \ their new homes, were
in the Oidst of the most unhy-
gienic conditions. There is a lack
.of houses everywhere. In Minsk
there are still 17,000 Jewish' "fu-