Page Two
THE JEWISH
Between
You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
DIPLOMATIC SILENCE
That sensational statement made by
powerful King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia,
in which, for the first time, he openly
opposes Jewish claims on Palestine, will
remain unchallenged by Zionist leaders
. . • It is understood that Dr. Wiezmann
has decided not to enter into an exchange
of polemics with the king of Saudi
Arabia for more than one reason . . .
Life Magazine, where Ibn Saud's state-
ment - was published, is making an at-
tempt to secure a statement from a lead-
ing Zionist, but will not get any . . . The
Zionist argument in Life magazine may
be presented by a New York rabbi who
is not active in Zionist affairs . . . Leading
Zionists take the attitude that the Jew-
ish position in Palestine will be decided,
not by any Arab ruler, but by Britain
and' America . . . Nothing that Arab
rulers say at present is, therefore, as im-
portant as what the Governments of the
United States and England think with
regard to the future status of- Palestine
. . . The practical thing to do, therefore,
is to concentrate on proper presentation
of the Zionist case before the people of
England and America rather than before
the Arab leaders . . . In this respect there
is no disagreement whatsoever in the
Zionist ranks in America, where the
opinion prevails that no appeasement
policy will help to convince the Arabs to
come even half way around to the Jewish
point of view . . . The difficulty with
Ibn Saud's statement lies in the fact that
the United States Government is now
greatly interested in certain projects in
Saudi Arabia which lies on the Red Sea
and also borders the stragetic Persian
Gulf . . . It seems that this American in-
terest in Saudi Arabia has given the king
the courage to come out openly against
Jewish interests in Palestine . . . The
burden of counteracting Ibn Saud's anti-
Zionist sentiments, therefore, falls upon
American Zionists more than on the ex-
ecutive of the Jewish Agency in Palestine.
AXIS NEGOTIATIONS
lin West 68. there's a House near the park,
The best in the City, so don't keep it dark;
50 cents for a ni.ght, then breakfast next morn'
J ust sign on the register, and you'll he glad you
were horn.
rt.'s a blessing to lads. in the services for all
Se-don't be in doubt, but just make your call,
Friday, June 11, 1943
Quotation of the Week
"There is little one can say in a message of consolation to Jewish
people here or abroad during this period of brutal aggression in certain
parts of the world. The only thing we can do is to pledge ourselves in
this country never to allow the kind of prejudice to grow up which
lead to oppression of minorities and to cruelty towards any group in
our community."
—MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, in Message
to Synagogue Council of America
Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)
DUFF COOPER'S "DAVID"
The English love the Bible—and they
know the Great -Book even better than
the People of the Book.
It is no wonder, therefore, that a mem-
ber of the British Cabinet should be the
author of a biography of one of the great
Biblical characters—David.
Harper & Bros. last week published the
magnificent story of the great Jewish
soldier-king-statesman-poet-lover by Duff
Cooper, who has already held important
Cabinet posts and is the present Chancel-
lor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
* * 4,
THE ORDINARY INTEREST
Ordinarily, such a book, with all its
fascination, would fall merely in the
realm of biography and good writing.
But today, as partners with the British
in a great undertaking of homeland-
building, such a work becomes even more
significant than merely literature. It as-
sumes political importance.
• Such a book leads us to a consideration
of the minds of the British statesmen who
love the Bible but do not often fight for
the preservation of the creators of the
Scriptures.
How does Duff Cooper fit into such a
picture? Will . he, when the time arrives,
come forth as the defender of Jewish
rights in Palestine? -
Let's take a brief look at the book for
possible revelation:
* * *
A TOUCHING DEDICATION
There is a touching dedication*. We are
sincerely grateful to Duff Cooper for the
following:
Now that the Rumanian authorities,
acting under Hitler's orders, have arrest-
ed 'Constantin Bursan, a former influ-
ential member of the Rumanian parlia-
ment, the story can be told of the nego-
tiations which Bursan conducted in
This book is_ dedicated
Instanbul in connection with Jewish emi-
To the Jewish People
gration from Rumania to Palestine . . .
To whom the world owes
Not only was he sent by the Rumanian
Government to Turkey to contact Jewish
The Old and the New Testaments
organizations and to submit to them the
And much else . •
"famous" offer that Rumania was .ready
In the realms of beauty and knowledge
to permit the emigration of several thou-
A debt
sand Jews for a price, but the authorities.
That has been ill repaid.
in Bucharest also saw to it that Jewish
groups abroad should be notified to take
This is the language of a great Chris-
his offer seriously . . . In fact, they forced
tian, of a brilliant English statesman and
sonic Jewish leaders in Rumania to write man of letters who knows. Israel's story.
to Jewish organizations in neutral coun-
Yet, we are compelled to ask about
tries telling them to consider Bursan's
Duff Cooper and men like him whether
proposal as one coming from official
they do not forget "too ,easily this "debt
Rumanian sources . . . Jewish relief or-
that has been . ill repaid". when such re-
ganizations operating in Lisbon were the
payment comes into' conflict with "Brit-
first to receive notification• of Bursan's
ish colonial . :policy" that; is so difficult to
mission to Turkey . . . And a represen-
understand. •
tative of the Jewish Agency in Instanbul
* * *
was instructed to , meet Bursan and see
ARCHIVES AND REALITY
what he had to . - offer . . . the Nazis now
Perhaps explanation is easier to find
admit that their agents in Turkey spied
than we at first surmise. Look carefully
upon Bursan • during his stay ..and dis-
at the facts and you find ..that it is so
covered him negotiating not only with
easy to admire objects you find in ar-
Jews, but also with British and American
chives; and it is so difficult to get people
diplomats . . . This infuriated the Gestapo
to act realistically . about such matters
which arranged it so that when Burson 'when they are exposed to the light of day.
returned from his unsuccessful mission
Too many people would make Jews and
he was arrested.
their creations objects of admiration —
provided they remained objects in mu-
seums and in musty archives. The mo-
ment we throb with life they turn against
us. That .seems to be the case with a Sir
Ronald Storrs and his like.
Here is hoping that this is not the case
with Duff Cooper. He speaks too genuine-
ly. His "David" is too much the master-
A British sailor, on leave in New York
piece. His dedication of his great book to
City, wrote a set of verses addressed to
the Jewish people is too sincere a• -gesture.
Mrs. .Stephen S. Wise, president of the
Let's hope we'll see him actively engaVd-
women's division of the American Jewish
in defense of our position.
Congress, after his stay at the Congress
In the meanwhile, your Commentator
Defense Houses, 50 W. 68th St., New
highly recommends that you read his
York City, .a service center for men in
"David." You'll enjoy this great book.
the armed forces of the Allied Nations.
Defense Houses furnish the men with
always be ready to enter you there
bed, breakfast, cigarettes and recreation They'll
In this house by the Park, that frees you from
care.
facilities for 50 cents a night. It is oper-
It's a home 'way from home. as
can attest
ated by the women's division of the As a lad in the Navy, who had of I the
best
From
all
those
concerned.
who
give
services
.free
American Jewish Congress, under the
To the lads in the Air. the Land and the Sea.
auspices of the USO-Jewish Welfare
Lovely lassies are ready to give the glad hand,
Board.
In fact: they are angels. who live
the land:
Well that's what you'll think when
when you meet
The poem runs as follows:
one and all
Sailor Describes
House by the Park
NEWS
Heard in
The Lobbies
-By DAVID DEUTSCH
(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)
WASHINGTON ENVOYS
It isn't the non-Zionists who have made
an outcry about the establishment of a
Jewish Agency Executive office in Wash-
ington but a few Zionists . . . For the
time being, Dr. Nahum Goldmann will
occupy the post of envoy for the Jewish
Agency, recognized in the League of Na-
tions Mandate as virtually the partner to
Britain in Palestine. He will be assisted
by Arthur Lourie, formerly of London
and for a long time the secretary to Dr.
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
Chaim Weizmann, Jewish Agency head.
(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Critics of the Jerusalem-initiated ac-
Syndicate)
tion. contend that the job belongs to
American Zionists, to the Emergency
WAR ECHOES
William B. Ziff, author of "The Coming Committee for Zionist Affairs, for ex-
Battle of Germany," is proud . . . It was ample. But these critics forget that, ex-
Ziff who in his book, ptf6lished last cept for a short interval to begin with,
summer, projected the idea of smashing there hasn't been enough energy or vision
the "docks and lockgates which carry in that committee to keep up an office in
Washington since the committee was or-
the canal across the River Ems" . .
That is exactly what the RAF did a few ganized four years ago.
weeks ago, - when it put that industrial
American Zionists ought to get used to
Ruhr area under water.
the idea of having a Jewish Agency en-
Don't miss Herbert H. Lehman's article, voy at Washington. Isn't it about time to
"Agriculture's Post-War Job," in the get people accustomed to the thought of
June issue of The Country Gentleman .. . a Jewish Palestine embassy in the Amer-
That Jewish delegation from the Soviet ican capital? A handful of American
Union, expected any day now, will be Zionists echo Senator Wheeler's concep-
welcomed by a distinguished national tion of America's "grand isolation" even
reception committee of which Prof. Al- though they may shudder to have their
bert Einstein, Shalom Asch, Dr. Stephen name coupled with his . . . This little
S. Wise, Dr. Abba H. Silver, Mrs. David handful wants to separate American
de Sola Pool, Paul Muni, Eddie Cantor Zionists from the World Zionist Organi-
and scores of other prominent leaders and zation.
artists will be members.
The attacks on that Jewish Agency of-
* * *
fice in Washington have, not so strangely,
HOWARDIANA
been broadcast and encouraged by a cer-
Some years ago, when we told our tain journalistic corps which has been
readers that Leslie Howard, the English fighting the Jewish Agency since 1933,
stage and screen star par excellence, was when Dr. Chaim Arlosoroff was mur-
Jewish, and that his real name was dered on the Tel Aviv beach and there
Steiner, we were deluged with protests followed • the most remarkable smear
. . Leslie Howard couldn't be Jewish, campaign against the Jewish Agency Ex-
people. wrote in—he was so very, very ecutive that any Jewish group ever spon-
English . . . Now that he has been shot sored.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann is generally rec-
down by the Nazis while doing important
British propaganda work, the newspapers ognized as one of the most brilliant men
confirm the fact that he was born in world Jewry, able scholar, great ora-
Steiner .
tor, extraordinary conversationalist, who
Now we can tell you how we learned has an unexcelled background of diplo-
this years ago . . . Leslie Howard was matic contacts and acquaintance with
playing in "The Petrified Forest" . . . Max protocol. Every Zionist who recognizes
Reinhardt and yours truly called on him how poor has been the educational pro-
in his dressing room . . . Reinhardt was gram to acquaint Washington with Zion-
anxious to get Howard to play Hamlet ist aims and achievements ought to throw
under his direction . . . That evening his hat into the air at the prospect of get-
Heinhardt told us: "Leslie Howard is too ting a man of Dr. Goldmann's ability to
perfect an Englishman to be English • . . hold down the post.
I think he has some Hungarian strain in
him" ... We investigated, and discovered
that Howard's family was named Steiner
and had originally come from Hungary.
Strictly
Confidential
'As Heroes'
*
*
*
JEWISH NEWS
The present administration of the Zion-
ist Organization of America will come to
the annual convention in September with
an unprecedented record . . . Its mem-
bership will have reached a new high
of 50,000 . If Judge Levinthal were
willing, he could be re-elected for a third
time.
Unless the gentry- who are trying to
undermine Wendell Willkie's chances for
the Presidential nomination will cease
their anti-Semitic whispering campaign;
they will run into trouble . . . Their
activities are well known.
An AP dispatch from Chicago reports:
"William Marcus, theatrical - producer,
believes the thief who stole his type-
writer will get a surprise . . . The type-
writer prints in Hebrew characters."
4'
* *
WEEKLY GIGGLE
We are indebted to Elsa Maxwell for
this story on Anne O'Hare 'McCormick's
first interview with Hitler in 1933 . . .
"What do you intend to' do about the
Jews?" was one of her questions . . .
Hitler turned pale, smote the table
with his fist, and shouted: "The Jews
will have to go" . . . And suddenly he
asked: "What are srou going to do with
your Jews .in America?" . . . Mrs. Mc-
Cormick, looking- Hitler straight in the
eye, replied: "Oh, fle-i-E4.:
we in America aren't afraid of the Jews
. . We think we're just as good as they
are."
* * *
THIS AND THAT
The play built around Meyer .W. Weis-
gal's tribulations as the producer of ''The
Eternal Road" is now nearing completion.
The London Yididsh stage hit, "The
Of those who give service, you'll often recall.
You'll be sorry to leave when the time comes Room in the Coy ner," will be produced
to go
in this country soon, in English.
For you're leaving behind. the best that you
know;
One reliable source reports that Charles
This house in New York blesses us who must
Boyer, the screen star, belongs to the
rove
So far from our homes and those whom we love. race that 1-litler has sworn to exterminate.
A Tribute By a Detroiter to
Chaplain Alexander Goode
By BEN SAMUEL
(Based on Information Supplied by the
National Jewish Welfare Board)
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
Chaplain Alexander Goode was re-
ported missing in , action by the War
Department on March 23. He was one of
four chaplains traveling on a North - At-
lantic convoy. Eye-witnesses 'reported
that the four chaplains removed their
life jackets and gave them to enlisted
men before the ship went down.
The Purple Heart award was presented
by the War Department to Chaplain
Goode's wife on his birthday, May 10.
Last week the Jewish Welfare Board
received a letter—from Chaplain Morton
A. Bauman, son of Harvey Bauman, of
2724 Hazelwood Ave., - Detroit, stationed
in Newfoundland—which contained the
following paragraphs in reference to
Chaplain Goode's sacrifices:
"As for Goode," the letter reads in
part, "I fear that I cannot tell you very
much. As you may have known, he was
a classmate of mine. Goode and the troops
on his ship visited us here on the way
to their destination. I spent a whole day
with him and with the two Protestant
and -nne Catholic chaplains that were
also
way to that same destination.
Goode
•Taphed to his wife from here
and a.
to her.
y which has come back
. _
chrouglie of the boys in the Coast
Guard (whom I later met here in the
hospital) and through one of the boys re-
turning from who met the survivors,
was that Goode and the chaplains with
him went down as true heroes. The four
of them stayed together, gave away their
lifebelts to those who didn't have them,
assisted in getting off as many as possible,
prayed together, and then went down into
the hold of the ship to -go down with
those men who could not get out."