THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Two
Heard in
The Lobbies
By DAVID DEUTSCH
(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)
BENES SAYS OK.
Rumor has it that while Eduard Benes,
Czech, President-in-Exile, was in the U.
S. A. he predicted that establishment of
the Jewish National Home in Palestine
was as certain as the re-establishment of
the Czech State, and he has no reserva-
tions whatever about the latter.
That swell series on the seditionists be-
ing run by PM should do much to
Strengthen the hands of Attorney Gen-
e•al Biddle when the time comes to pros-
ecute those 33 alleged Americans. It was
time that somebody counteracted the
campaign . of the ,McCormick-Patterson
papers, backed up by Senators Taft, Nye,
Wheeler et al.
Did you notice, incidentally, in that
widely publicized speech at a small Penn-
sylvania college, Senator Taft of Ohio in-
sisted that "interference in the internal
affairs of other- nations to protect their
minorities . . . Would be more likely to
foment war than to prevent it?" And
some Jews think that postwar minority
rights will make everything hunky-dory
for European Jews.
It must be a relief to Jeroine Weidman
not to have Jews boycotting one of his
books. His "Lights around the Shore"
will call for no such action as was or-
ganized by, certain prominent Jewish
bodies five years- ago when "What's In It
for Me?" was published. The pressure
was so strong that Simon & Schuster
agreed to stop issuing the book. Just for
that, Weidman, noW aiding the OWI,
doesn't have a single Jew in his new
book.
PERSONA
That new - woman columnist introduced
by the NeW York Post is the wife of
wealthy Edward A. Norman, now a lieu-
tenant in the USNR. She is Dorothy Nor-
man, attractive-looking, who fits in well
With the liberalism sponsored in the Post
by New Deal supporter, Mrs. Dorothy_
Schiff Backer. It makes for confusion,
though, to have Dorothy Norman and
Dorothy Thompson in the same paper,
especially if any attempt is to be made to
build up Mrs. Norman- for syndication.
Is Meyer Levin
Still Alive?
By BEN SAMUEL
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
(Based on Information Supplied by the
National Jewish Welfare Board).
Meyer Levin's parents received a visi-
tor in their Brooklyn, N. Y., home last
week who raised their hopes that the
master sergeant who flew with Captain
Colin Kelly might still be alive.
The caller was Sgt. Norman Carlsen,
a 21-year-old flier from Ogden, Utah,
who was a friend of Meyer's in the
Southwest Pacific. Sgt. Carlsen, an aerial
photographer and gunner, returned to the
states the same day Levin was reported
killed in a Flying Fortress crash at sea,
near New Guinea.
Sgt. Carlsen showed Mrs. 'Levin pic-
tures of her son. After a while, she
asked: •
"Out there, where the plane went down
—are there many islands—small islands?
"Yes, there are," the sergeant replied.
"Out there, on these islands, are there
natives? Could a lost flier find enough
to eat?
"Yes."
"Meyer was a good swimmer," Mrs.
Levin said. •
"He was always very calm," Mr. Levin
observed.
"Mike could hit better than the offi-
cers," Sgt. Carlsen told them. "He never
left the bombsight even when the Japs
were shooting at him."
On his way to visit the Levins, Sgt.
Carlsen had a gruelling experience. He
had to take the B. M. T. subway to the
Levin home. It was the height of the
rush hour -and the Brighton express was,
of course, jammed beyond capacity.
"We're running out of oxygen," Sgt.
Carlsen informed the reporter who had
come along with him.
Carlsen was probably right, too, be-
cause he has worked with oxygen equip-
ment at high altitudes and can sense
these things. -
But the other pasSengers on the Brigh-
ton express smiled blandly and looked
wise. What's a little lack of oxygen to
a subway rider? We've been going
through this hardship of aerial warfare
for years without even giving it a
thought.
Quotation of the Week
"In the first place, as a . Jew, I claim in the fullest sense of the
word absolute equality with other peoples as to status, political, social
and economic rights.
"Secondly, the Executive accepts the right of the Jewish people
to develop in Palestine their Homeland, regretting the appearance of
a policy of appeasement relating to this matter as any part of the
policy of any government of the United Nations, inasmuch as ap-
peasement has disappeared in all other aspects of their policy.
"Thirdly, I hope that the conference will realize that anti-Semi-
tism is the beginning of fascism, the one indicating the coming of the
other. In all reactionary movements the Jews are always the first
victims:
"For two thousand years we have been the victims of persecution
of this kind. We stood at the grave of every oppressor and we Shall
also stand at the grave of the Nazi oppressors."
—PROF. HAROLD LASKI, speaking for
Executive of British Labor Party, at the
Labor Party's 42nd Annual Conference in
London, last week.
Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
DETROIT'S DISGRACE
Detroit stands disgraced in the eyes of
civilized men over what has happened
here to create race issues, which resulted
in bloodshed and rioting.
The outrages assumed such immense
proportions that even the pogroms in
Russia are believed to have been child's
play compared with the disgusting spec-
tacle in which Negroes were beaten into
pulp and property was destroyed.
A vacillating policy on the part of our
officials, including the Mayor, and the
police, is in great measure to blame for
this situation.
A firm stand could and should have
been taken. Unfortunately, the respon-
sible leaders in the community seem to
be completely unaware of the experi:
ences in Russia and Germany. They fail
to recognize, in these outbursts the finger
of Fascism.
If these are the fruits of war, then we
are in for bad times. But if our govern-
ment officials and community leaders
will deal courageously with the problem
and call a spade a spade—placing blame
where it belongs—then Worse trouble
will be averted. •
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WISDOM IN CHILDREN'S CORNER
If you still have a copy of last week's
Jewish News on hand, refer back to the
Children's Corner which appeared on the
editorial page. That column carried sev-
eral Talmudic quotations which have a
bearing on the present quarrel occasioned
by the American Jewish Conference.
The leading quotation asked why the
, Temple was destroyed, even though Jews
observed their laws. The answer given
by the Sages who compiled the Talmud
was: "Because there was hostility with-
out cause in their midst."
Isn't there hostility without cause in
our midst today?
True, there is a serious difference of
opinion on Palestine. But the dissenting
minority is so small that we need not
even reckon with the dissenters.
What we must dons avoid dissention in
our midst at all costs—lest we lose the
battle for freedom for our oppressed fel-
low Jews.
* * *
THE FRUIT OF NAZISM
From underground Czech sources
comes news of a story going the rounds
in coffee houses in Prague. The story
goes that since the Germans assumed
charge of the administration in the Czech
capital, only two hands do not steal—the
two hands on the face of the ancient
clock,. or horologe, known as Orloj, on
the wall of the Old Town City Hall.
The surprising thing is that even these
two hands remain and that the Nazi van-
dals have not torn them down Town Hall,
Clock, Hands and everything in sight for
remelting into war weapons.
The two hands on the Czech clock are
apparently destined to serve as witnesses
against Nazism, when the corrupt Ger-
mans are called upon to pay the penalty
for the evil fruits of Nazism.
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THE SPIRIT AND 'THE SWORD
"Free France," the organ of the Free
French in this country, in its current issue
recalls the following statement of Napo-
leon I:
"Do you know what I admire most in
the world? It is the powerlessness of
force to organize anything. There are
only two powers in the world: the sword
and the spirit. In the long run, the sword
is always beaten by the spirit."
. Napoleon I must have been a .student
Friday, June 25, 1943
Strictly
Confidential
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)
WAR ECHOES
Topping the story of Brooklyn's Corp-
oral Bernard J. Kessel, who last Novem-
ber practically captured Oran, in North
Africa, single handed in a General Grant,
is the saga of the RAF's Sergeant Sidney
Cohen, who, landing on the Italian isle
of Lampedusa last week because his
plane was running out of gas, was
amazed to receive an offer of surrender
from the Italian defenders of the island
. .. Sidney is now known to his pals as
King Cohen of Lampedusa.
There's no more Spinoza Street in The
Hague, nor Da Costa Street or Josef
Israels Square or Tobias Asser Avenue,
by decree of the Nazis . . . But the loyal
Dutchmen still refer to those streets by
their old familiar—if Jewish—names.
Major Itzik Pfeffer, the Soviet military
hero and great Yiddish poet now here as
a member of the official Jewish delega-
tion from Russia, tells us that a special
book on Jewish heroism in the war is
By BORIS SMOLAR
being planned by the Jewish Anti-Fas-
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
cist Committee of the USSR.
Agency, Inc.)
-
"Very Truly Yours" is the title of a
EYES ON WASHINGTON
volume James Waterman Wise is com-
Important developments concerning piling of letters written by men in the
Palestine are now brewing in Washing- armed service of the United States to
ton . . Sufficient to say that Dr. Weiz- their families and friends at home . . .
mann, who contemplated returning to If your soldier boy had been writing you
London this month, may change his mind some particularly interesting letters, send
and remain in the United States for a copies to Mr. Wise—and perhaps you will
few more weeks . . . This, despite the see one or more of them in the book
fact that he is very much wanted now in when it is published.
England and is anxious to get there as
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soon as possible . . . I would not be sur- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
prised if Dr. Weizmann is in the midst of
Germany, reports PM's Selwyn James,
decisive consultations in Washington
last winter arranged with some Portu-
within the next six weeks..
guese business men for the manufacture
In this week's issue of Life magazine and delivery of a large quantity of heavy
you will read a lengthy Zionist reply to sweaters for Nazi soldiers on the Russian
the ruler of Saudi-Arabia signed by Dr.
front and in Norway . . . But not a single
Stephen S. Wise . . . The Zionist lead-
one of the expected sweaters was de-
ers decided to answer Ibn Saud after an livered . . . Why? . . . Because the skilled
important visit to Washington by Dr.
knitters in Portugal are almost all Jews
Weizmann last week . . . He returned to
—and they refused to work for. Hitler . .
New York in quite a happy mood . .
It is reported, incidentally, that a num-
And speaking of the statement which
ber of Italian Jewish refugees marooned
Ibn Saud published in Life, it will inter-
in Portugal since the beginning of the
est many to learn that the English trans-
war are packing their bags and preparing
lation of the Arabic text turned out to be
to return to Italy . • . They are convinced
somewhat incorrect . . . One passage in
that the good old days will be back
the statement reads too mildly in its
before the middle of the summer.
English translation as compared with the
The sealed records of the McCormack
original . . . Experts who studied the
original, as it appeared in Arabic in Life Congressional Committee which invest-
magazine, discovered that the text im- igated un-American activities will be ex-,
plied that all Jews who settled in Pales- amined by the FBI . . . These records
tine after the Balfour Declaration would contain evidence of activities by paid
be deported if Ibn Saud had his way .. . Nazi and Jap agents . • . And we have
This implication was "softened tip" in it straight from Walter Winchell that a
the English translation .- . . Zionist lead- sensation will be created by the publica-
ers feel that it would have been much tion of the names of prominent Amer-
better if the text, with all its implica- icans mentioned in these documents as
tions, had been published in Life maga- flirting with foreign agents.
Gerald L. K. Smith of Detroit is gath-
zine in a painstakingly correct transla-
tion . . . This would have given the world ering strength and support for a nation-
a better idea of what the ruler of Saudi- wide organizational propaganda tour.
Arabia actually has in his mind.
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JEWISH NEWS
JEWISH PEACE FEELERS
About 10 years ago we interviewed
Both Zionists and non-Zionists are Bertrand Russell on Zionism . . .`He re-
rather glad that the American Jewish jected a portion of Jewish nationalism . .
Conference will hold its sessions not in Last week this same Bertrand Russell
July, as originally planned, but in Aug- wrote an inspiring article favoring an
ust . . . By that time many important autonomous Jewish State in Palestine . .
issues which would have brought fric- Great philosophers are not afraid to
tion to the Conference if held on July 1, change their minds.
will assume a more peaceful aspect . . .
Rabbi Irving Miller of Long Island,
Including the Palestine issue . . . I under- just back from a flying visit to England,
stand that it is possible that the Palestine is very definite in his views that the so-
issue may be straightened out between called wave of anti-Semitism in the Brit-
Zionist and non-Zionist leaders even be- ish Isles is of no consequence . . . He
fore the American Jewish Conference believes that it is high time for the Zion-
convenes. One proposal is that the 14 ist leadership to speak out in no uncer-
American members of the Administrative tain terms about the White Paper.
Committee of the Jewish Agency come
together and agree on a united program
for post-war Palestine to be brought be-
fore the American, Jewish Conference . .
There are seven Zionists and seven non-
By MARIE SYRKIN
Zionists in the American section of the
Administrative Committee of the Jewish There is something between us now:
Agency . . . An agreement between them The cry you did not raise.
would be tantamount to agreement be- You have washed your hands again.
tween all groups of American Jewry, Put down the pitcher.
since they are the leading figures in their This water will flow between us.
organizations . . . As there is practically Give me back Jesus;
no disagreement on the post-war de- He is my brother.
mands for Jews in Europe among the He will walk with me
various groups participating in the Con- Behind the gray ghetto wall
ference, a pre-arranged agreement on Into the slaughter-house.
-
post-war Palestine would complete the I will lead him into the lethal chamber;
spirit of unity and would avoid unneces- He will lie down upon the poisoned
sary confusion and dissension.
stone;
The little children prickled with the
death bubble
of Hebrew Scriptures, since this state-
ment is so well paterned after the words Will come unto him.
Return to him the yellow badge.
of the Propfet Zechariah: "Not by -might,
GiVe me back Jesus;
the
nor by power, but by my spirit, said the He is not yours.
Lord."
(Reprinted from The Jewish Frontier)
Between
You and Me
To Christian Friend