•

Page Two

Heard in
the Lobbies

By DAVID DEUTSCH

(Copyright; 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

SAME FRANKFURTER
Those who are inclined to point a
finger of special scorn at Judge Felix
Frankfurter for being among the five
who freed George Sylvester Viereck on a
technically can't know much about the
history of the Supreme Court Justice.
Some 15 years ago he was busy on
behalf of Sacco and Vanzetti, when it
was more "dangerous" to do this in
Massachusetts than it is to speak up for
Nazi agent Viereck now, Frankfurter
based his whole position on the unfair-
ness of the judge in not making clear to
the jury the facts in the case. He con-
. demned Judge Thayer for being too emo-
tional. 'Every experienced lawyer knows
that it is idle to ask jurors to dismiss
from their memory what has been de-
posited in their feelings."
There is the key to the Court's con-
demnation of Maloney. It was Frankfurt-
er's belief back in 1927 that "the case
against Sacco and Vanzetti for murder
was part of a collusive effort between the
district attorney and agents of the De-
partment of Justice to rid the country of
these Italians because of their Red acti-
vities." And so because Frankfurter did
not then wish to see a man condemned
for something he was rather than for
something he did, his vote was cast in
Viereck's favor. Even though Viereck
must have hated the very thought of
Sacco and Vanzetti.
CONTRADICTIONS
David Dubinsky, generally considered
the chief stumbling block of affiliation of
Jewish labor with the rest of the Jewish
community, is said to object to emphasis
on the Jewish rather than the economic
interests of Jews—this being a traditional
Jewish Socialist (of Poland) attitude.
But when Henryk Ehrlich and Victor
Alter, Jewish Socialist leaders of Poland,
were reported executed by the Soviet
Government, the Jewish Labor Commit-
tee, in which Dubinsky is a leading spirit,
took the extraordinary step of using big
advertising in the New York papers to
the effect that "the Jewish people" pro-
tested .. .
Pubinsky's opposition to the American
Jewish Congress is alleged to be on the
ground that it always refers to "the
Jewish people." But I guess if you do
vv•hat you object to in the other fellow, it's
O.K. . . .
Incidentally, - that's a new fad of New
York organizations: to pay a lot of money
to the New York papers to advertise your
cause. Although it was done occasionally
in the past, the Committee for a Jewish
Army was responsible. for bringing the
practice into the big-time. Well, it cer-
tainly keeps the lineage figures of New
York papers up.
PRINCIPAL FACTOR
Louis Lipsky, veteran Zionist leader
and writer-extraordinary of the American
Jewish Congress, was a principal factor in
the huge March 1 mass meeting staged at
Madison Square Garden by the Congress.
That meeting Was in competition with the
Ben Hecht demonstration staged a week
later at the Garden by the Committee .
for a Jewish Army. Lipsky's son, David,
was one of the press agents for the Ben
Hecht affair. I hope that won't injure the
elder Lipsky's standing in the Zionist
movement.
Even in mourning, New York Jews
must cry over their brethern in separate
chapels. First to be announced was the
March 9 Ben Hecht affair. Then the Con-
gress, originally scheduled for early
February, decreed a March 1 function.
The Jewish Labor Committee decided
that the "working masses" couldn't be
contaminated by either group and so its
union members wept at a series of pri-
vate little meetings of their own.
The people who always talk of "the
unity and discipline" among the Jews
should know what's really going on!

Tickling the News

By MARTIN PANZER

(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

Robert Moses, one of the best Park
Commissioners New York City ever had,
favors drastic reduction of immigration
after the war. Well, after all, he's here
already.
*
*
*
A writer in the Manchester Guardian
declares that many anti-Semitic measures
are still in operation - in North Africa be-
cause Giraud is afraid to antagonize the
Arabs. Isn't it strange that nobody's afraid
of the democracies?

THE JEWISH NEWS

Quotation of the Week

"Let havens be designated in the vast territories of the United
Nations which will give sanctuary to those fleeing from imminent
murder. Let the gates of Palestine be opened to all who can reach the
shores of the Jewish Homeland. The Jewish community of Palestine
will welcome with joy and thanksgiving all delivered from Nazi
hands. We solemnly urge the United Nations to save those not yet
herded into slaughter-houses and lethal chambers. These are moments
when moral issues outweigh political considerations. When a people is
being murdered, the free world cannot wash its hands and look away.
Unless the United Nations take immediate action to give sanctuary to
the doomed, they make themselves passive accomplices of the blackest
crime of which history holds record."

—Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the
World Zionist Organization and the
Jewish Agency for Palestine.

Purely
Commentary

Between
You and Me

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

By BORIS SMOLAR

Friday, March 12, 1943

Strictly
Confidential

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)

MASS DEMONSTRATIONS
The Ben Hecht-Billy Rose memorial
spectacle held at Madison Square Gar-
den this week was sold out two weeks
before curtain time . . . As a matter of
fact, the Committee for a Jewish Army,
sponsor of the meeting, had to return
to would-be audience members, more
than $15,000 in reservation orders that it
was unable to fill.
The capacity audience at the American
Jewish Congress' Madison Square Gar-
den demonstration last week was over-
whelmingly Zionistic . . . One of the most
stirring moments of this great event was
the ovation given to Dr. Chaim Weiz-
mann, whom the 20,000 people present
greeted by standing up and singing the
Hatikvah as one man ... One of the high-
lights of the meeting was the speech de-
livered by New York's Mayor LaGuar-
dia. who expressed the sentiments of all
present (though some of the non-Jewish
reporters covering the meeting didn't
quite understand what he was saying)
when he exclaimed, with reference to
Hitler's state of health: "Der Schlag soil
ihm treffen"—with a perfect Yiddish ac-
cent.
WAR AND PEACE
Going the rounds are whispers that
Archbishop Spellman's visit to the Vati-
can via Madrid has something to do with
the Jewish refugee situation . . . But
they are without any foundation whatso-
ever, so don't put any stock in them.
Bernard G. Richards, who, as you 're-
member, was the secretary of the Am-
erican Jewish delegation to the 1919
Peace Conference at Paris, is very much
in demand as a speaker now . . . Jew-
ish organizations interested in the me-
chanics of Jewish representation at the
coming world peace conference are eager
to listen to Richard's inside story of his
experiences.
ABOUT PEOPLE
Moshe Shertok, political director of the
Jewish Agency, who is now in this coun-
try, recently ; amazed a Washington per-
sonality who was calling on him . . In
the course of successive telephone con-
versations carried on in the presence of
his visitor Shertok spoke not only Eng-
lish and Hebrew, but a most perfect
Arabic, French and Turkish.
Meyer W. Weisgal's many. friends need
feel no cause for alarm. While it's true
that at the time of writing he's in the
hospital, he'll be fully recovered from a
minor operation by the time you \ read
this.

DR. SILVER'S "BURDENS TO COME" -
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish. Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, speaking at The
Temple, in Cleveland, in honor of Dr. THE ALL-JEWISH FRONT:
Abba Hillel Silver's 50th birthday and
We wonder why no publicity has been
25th anniversary as Cleveland Rabbi,
made a significant statement which ought given by the organizations concerned to
to set many people, especially Zionists, the fact that a United Jewish Emergency
Committee has been formed in America
to thinking. He said:
"Some day we will come to you and ask to intervene to save the Jews of Nazi
you to release him to serve in a larger Europe. Especially since this committee
field where his statesmanship, wisdom is composed of representatives of all lead-
and • knowledge, and the reputation he ing Jewish organizations. And all the
has acquired throughout the years, might more so, since this committee is prepared
be utilized for the greater cause of Israel. to intervene for the sending of food to
I have been tempted often to take him the starving Jews in the ghettos. The im-
from you and place on his shoulders the portance of this group can best be judged
by the fact that represented on it are
heavy burdens of our national cause."-
What did Weizmann mean? What are the American Jewish Congress, the Am-
erican Jewish Committee, the Jewish La-
these burdens to come?
bor Committee, the Joint Distribution
THE ZOA LEADERSHIP
Committee, the Emergency Committee
Dr. Silver already holds one of the most for Zionist Affairs, the General Jewish
responsible positions in American Jewish Council, the Rabbinical Assembly of Am-
life. He is the national chairman of the erica and the Synagogue Council of Am- .
United Palestine Appeal. He is the. na- erica . . . a real united front. ,
tional co-chairman of the United Jewish
The mass demonstrations against Nazi
Appeal. He is the outstanding orator in, extermination of Jews held at Madison
and spokesman for, American Jewry. Square Garden in New York—two within
What new burdens can be facing his 10 days—have certainly stirred up public
future career?
opinion in America. Leading editorials in
Anyone who knows the trials and tribu- the American press commenting on the
lations of Zionism will arrive at an an- demonstrations were as valuable as the
swer readily and without difficulty. There note sent by the .U.
S. Government to
are two important jobs available at the Britain offering American cooperation in
moment. In the first place, the Emer- carrying out some of the suggestions con-
gency Committee for Zionist Affairs, tained in the resolutions passed at the
which has been weakened considerably Garden meetings. Remarkable is the fact
since the resignation of Emanuel Neu- that some labor organizations in Latin
mann as executive director (Question: American countries, fearing pressure on
why is his resignation kept a secret?), their countries to admit Jews from Nazi
needs a strong leader. Dr. Silver is the lands, rushed to address a private appeal
ablest man available for the job. But he to William Green, president of the Am-
is needed for an even more important job. erican Federation of• Labor, asking him
From the time that Dr. Stephen S. to use his influence against increased im-
Wise was president of the Zionist Or- migration from Europe. Green, on the
ganization of America, a precedent has contrary, appealed to the State Depart- -
been established limiting the' head of the ment to see whether the immigration
movement to two terms in office. This regulations in this country could not be
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
means that Judge Louis Levinthal will interpreted in a way which would per-
retire from the ZOA presidency this year. mit the admission into America of Jews
(Copyright. 1943, Jewish. Telegraphic
Who will be his successor?
Agency, Inc.)
escaping from Nazi terror.
NEEDS STRONG MAN
The speech made by Madame Chiang
THE ZIONIST FRONT:
The movement needs a strong man, and
It can now be stated definitely that the Kai Shek, wife of the Chinese General-
there is none stronger than Abba Hillel Soviet -Government will not allow a His- issimo, was something to write home
Silver. He possesses all the qualities that tadruth delegation to come to Russia. On about. It left Congress filled with admir-
make for leadership and for uncompro- the other hand it is ready to accept any ation for her. Our Claire Boothe Luce
mising adherence to principle. Neverthe- medical and other gifts for the Red Army was out-shadowed and newspaper corres-
less, there is doubt whether he will be a from any Jewish group in Palestine.
pondents more familiar with the English
candidate. The reason is obvious: no one
Is it true that the British military au- language than people generally, were
in his position will accept an office if thorities refuse to send Palestinian Jew- sent to the dictionaries.
there is a contest, and the powers that be ish boys to zones where British forces
They were- lookng up the word "ob-
may have a choice of their own.
come in friendly contact with the Russian
For the good of the Zionist movement, armed forces as, for instance, in Iran? tund" which Mrs. Chiang used and they
Dr. Silver should be asked to be a candi- And is it true that this practice is looked, were trying to find out just who were
date, regardless of opposition. If a contest upon by the British as a move to avoid Gobineau and Houston . Stewart Cham-
can be eliminated, all the better.. Other- possible friction on Zionism that may berlain, whom she mentioned in her
wise, loyalty to the movement should develop between soldiers of both camps? speech before Congress.
I imagine many a Jewish reader must
serve to compel Dr. Silver to step into
How much truth is there in the reports have paused when Mrs. Chiang mention-
the field and accept a call to service at
carried this week by some Hebrew news- ed Gobineau and Houston Stewart Cham-
this time.
If this is what Dr. Weizmann meant in papers in Palestine that Ben-Gurion is berlain. How well we Jews know the
his address before Dr. Silver's congrega- quite upset over the fact that Moshe latter. Chamberlain, the son-in-law of
tion, then we shall see interesting de- Shertok is now in the United States at the German composer, Wagner, was the
Dr. Weizmann's invitation? A Zionist of- man who made anti-Semitism into a phil-
velopments in American Zionism.
fice for political work will soon be open- osophy. Anti-Semitism had been a gutter
SUBSTITUTE CHOICES
ed in Washington as a result of Dr. thing before Gobineau and Chamberlain
Suppose Dr. Silver does not accept the Weizmann's stay in this country. .This came along.
call to ZOA leadership? Our second choice office will have little to do with ZOA
Building on the premises laid by Gob-
is Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the headquarters which are also in Wash-
ineau, Chamberlain made all wisdom ro-
Jewish National Fund of America as well ington.
as of the Synagogue Council of America.
The Jewish Agency, we learn, is very tate about the Germans. As the Germans
He is one of the . most brilliant leaders in much disturbed over the fact that the were made the finest of Nature's crea-
American Jewry and can do the job as Palestine immigration certificates which tions, the Jews were placed in the role of
well as anyone.
originally provided for the entry of par- a sinister force which must be despised
Then, there is Emanuel Neumann, who ents and children, are now being used and annihilated.
Madame Chiang, in referring to Cham-
has been tried and found capable of for children only.
doing a splendid job. His work with the
Lord Halifax, the British ambassador, berlain, probably was not thinking par-
American Palestine Committee, which has in his message to the Madison Square ticularly of Chamberlain's attitude to-
been inactive for some time because of Garden protest meeting against the Nazi wards Jews. She was thinking of the
Mr. Neuinann's resignation as executive massacres of Jews, declared that 29,000 whole racial system built up by Cham-
director of the Zionist Emergency Com- Jewish children "with a proportion of berlain, according to which the Chinese
mittee, his activities on the economic and adults" will be admitted to Palestine too Were in an inferior position.
political fronts, make him stand out as from Nazi Europe until April, 1944. Un-
But the point of interest here is that
one of our ablest Zionists. There are few der the provisions of the White Paper we Jews are not the only ones who feel
others who can do the job as well as these 29,000 Palestine visas were intend- the darts of such perverted thinkers as
Silver, Goldstein and Neumann.
ed for adults. They are the last that the Chamberlain. It is comforting to know
This is the time to mould Zionist public Jewish Agency will ever receive from the that there are others equally affected.
opinion, by inviting the best men to British Government unless the White
Madame Chiang made Chamberlain
assume the most responsible jobs.
Paper is cancelled.
and all that he stood for, look ridiculous.

Maclaine Chiang

•

