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-
eral 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 Jerome 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 proininent • 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-
nan, 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.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Strictly
Confidential
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
Between
You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
DETROIT'S DISGRACE
Agency, Inc.)
Detroit stands disgraced in the eyes of
civilized men over what has happened EYES ON WASHINGTON
here to create race issues, which resulted
Important developments concerning
in bloodshed and rioting.
Palestine are now brewing in Washing-
The outrages assumed Such immense ton . . . Sufficient to say that Dr. Weiz-
proportions that even the pogroms in mann, who contemplated returning to
Russia are believed to have been child's London this month, may change his mind
play compared with the disgusting spec- and remain in the United States for a
tacle in which Negroes were beaten into few more weeks . . . This, despite the
fact that he is very much wanted now in
pulp and property was destroyed.
A vacillating policy on the part of our England and is anxious to get there as
officials, including the Mayor, and the soon as possible . .. I would not be sur-
police, is in great measure to blame for prised if Dr. Weiimann is in the midst of
decisive consultations in Washington
this situation. .
A firm stand could' and should have within the next six weeks.
been taken. Unfortunately, the respon-
In this week's issue of Life magazine
sible leaders in the community seem to you will read a lengthy Zionist reply .to
be completely unaware of the. experi- the ruler of Saudi-Arabia signed_ by Dr.
ences in Russia and Germany. They fail Stephen S. Wise . . . The Zionist lead-
to recognize in these outbursts the finger ers decided to answer Ibri Saud after an
of Fascism.
important visit to 'Washington by Dr.
If these are the fruits of war, then we Weizmann last week . . . He returned to
are in for bad times. But if our govern- New York in quite a happy mood .
ment officials and community leaders And speaking of the statement which
will deal courageously with the problem Ibn Saud published in Life, it will inter-
and call a spade spade—placing blame est many to learn that the English trans-.
where it belongs—then worse trouble lation of the Arabic text turned out to be
will be averted.
somewhat incorrect . . . One passage in
the statement reads too mildly in its
*
•
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English translation as compared with the
WISDOM IN CHILDREN'S CORNER
original . . Experts who studied the
By BEN SAMUEL
If you still have a copy of last week's original, as it appeared in Arabic in Life
Jewish News on hand, refer back to the Magazine, diScovered that the text im-
(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
Children's Corner which appeared on the plied that all Jews who settled in Pales-
Agency, Inc.)
editorial page. That column carried sev- tine after the Balfour Declaration would
(Based on Information Supplied by the eral Talmudic quotationS which have a be deported if. Ibn Saud had his way . . .
bearing on the present quarrel occasioned This implication was "softened up" in
National Jewish Welfare Board).
by the American Jewish Conference.
the English translation . . . Zionist lead-'
Meyer Levin's parents received a _visi
The leading quotation asked why the ers feel that it would have been much
tor in their Brooklyn, N. Y., home last Temple was destroyed, even though Jews
better if the text, with all its implica-
week who raised their hopes that the
observed their laws. The answer given
master sergeant who flew with Captain by the Sages who compiled the Talmud tions, had been published in Life, maga-
zine in a painstakingly correct transla-
Colin Kelly might still be alive.
was: "Because there was hostility with- tion ... This would have given the world
The caller was Sgt. Norman Carlsen, out cause in their midst."
a better idea of what the ruler of Saudi-
a 21-year-old flier from Ogden, Utah,
Isn't there hostility without cause in Arabia actually has in his mind.
who was a friend of Meyer's in the our midst today?
*
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*
Southwest Pacific. Sgt. Carlsen, an aerial
True, there is a serious difference of
photographer and gunner, returned to the opinion on Palestine. But the dissenting JEWISH PEACE FEELERS
states the same day Levin was reported minority is so small that we need not
Both Zionists and non-Zionists are
killed in a Flying Fortress crash at sea, even reckon with the dissenters.
rather glad • that the. American Jewish
near New Guinea.
What we must do is avoid dissention in Conference will . hold its sessions not in
Sgt. Carlsen showed Mrs. Levin pic-
our midst at all costs—lest we lose the July, as originally planned, but in Aug-
tures of her son. After a while, she battle for freedom for our oppressed fel- ust . . . By that time many important
asked:
low Jews.
issues which would have brought fric-
* * *
"Out there, where the plane went down
tion to the Conference if held on July 1,
—are there many islands—small iSlands? THE FRUIT OF NAZISM
Will assume a more peaceful aspect . . .
"Yes, there are," the sergeant replied..
From underground Czech sources Including the Palestine issue ... I under-
"Out there, on these islands, are there comes news of a story going the rounds stand that it is possible that the Palestine
natives? Could a. lost flier find enough in coffee houses in Prague. The story issue may be straightened out between
to eat?
goes that since the Germans assumed Zionist and non-Zionist leaders even be-
"Yes."
charge of the administration in the Czech fore the AnieriCari Jewish Conference
"Meyer was a good swimmer," Mrs. capital, only two hands do not steal—the convenes. One proposal is that the 14
Levin said.
two hands on the face of the ancient American members of the Administrative
"He was always very calm," Mr. Levin
clock, or horologe, known as Orloj, on Committee of the Jewish Agency come
observed.
together and agree on a united program
the wall of the Old Town City Hall.
"Mike could hit better than the offi- .
The surprising thing is that even these for post-war Palestine to be brought be-
cers," Sgt. Carlsen told them. "He never
two hands remain and that the Nazi van- fore the American Jewish Conference . .
left the bombsight even when the Japs
dals have not torn them down Town Hall, There are seven Zionists and seven non-
were shooting at him."
Clock, Hands and everything in sight for Zionists in the American section of the
On his way to visit the Levins, Sgt. remelting into war weapons.
Administrative Committee of the Jewish
Carlsen had a gruelling experience. He
The two hands on. the Czech clock are Agency . . . An agreement between them
had to take the B. M. T. subway to the
apparently destined to serve as witnesses would be tantamount to agreement be-
Levin home. It was the height of the
against Nazism, when the corrupt Ger- tween all groups of American Jewry,
rush hour and the Brighton express was,
mans are called Upon to pay the penalty since they are the leading figures in their
of .course, jammed beyond capacity.
organizations . As there is practically
for the evil fruits of Nazism.
"We're running out of oxygen," Sgt.
no disagreement on the post-war de-
*
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*
Carlsen informed the reporter who had
mands for Jews 4n Europe among the
THE SPIRIT AND THE SWORD
come along with him.
various groups participating in the Con-
Carlsen was probably right, too, be-
"Free France," the organ of the Free ference, a pre-arranged agreement on
cause he has worked with oxygen equip- French in this country, in its current issue post-war Palestine would complete the
ment at high altitudes and can sense recalls the following statement of Napo- spirit of unity and would avoid unneces-
these things.
leon I:
sary confusion and dissension.
But the other passengers on the Brigh-
"Do you know what I admire most in
ton express. smiled blandly and looked the world? It, is the powerlessness of
wise. What's a . little lack of oxygen to force to organize anything. There are of Hebrew Scriptures, since this state-
a subway rider? We've been going only two powers in the world: the sword ment is so well paterned after the words
"Not by might,
through this hardship of aerial warfare and the spirit. In the long run, the sword of the Propfet, Zechariah:
.
for years without even giving it a is always beaten by the spirit."
nor by power, but by my spirit, said the
thought.
Napoleon I must have been a student Lord."
Is Meyer Levin
Still Alive?
Friday, June 25, 1943
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
being planned by the Jewish Anti-Fas-
cist Committee of the USSR.
"Very Truly Yours" is the title of a
volume James Waterman Wise is com-
piling of letters written by men in the
armed service of the United States to
their families and friends at home . . .
If your soldier boy had _been writing you
some particularly interesting letters, send
copies to Mr. Wise and perhaps you will
see one or more of them in the book
when it is published.
*
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Germany, reports PM's Selwyn James,
last winter arranged with some Portu-
guese business nien for the manufacture
and delivery of a large quantity of heavy
sweaters for Nazi soldiers on the Russian
front and in Norway . . . But not a single
one of the expected sweaters was de-
livered „ . . Why? . . . Because the skilled
knitters in Portugal are almost all Jews
—and they refused to work for Hitler . .
It is . reported,- incidentally, that a num-
ber of Italian Jewish refugees marooned
in Portugal since the beginning of the
war are packing their bags and preparing
to return to Italy . . . They are convinced
that the good old days will be back
before the Middle of the summer.
The sealed records of the McCormack
Congressional Committee which invest-
igated un-American activities be: ex-
amined by the FBI • . . These records
contain evidence of activities by paid
Nazi and Jap agents . . . And , we have
it straight from Walter Winchell that a
sensation will be created by the -publica-
tion of the • names of prominent Amer-
icans mentioned in these documents as
flirting with foreign agents.
Gerald L. K. Smith of Detroit is gath-
ering strength and support for a nation-
wide organizational propaganda . tour.
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JEWISH NEWS
About 10 years ago we interviewed
Bertrand Russell on Zionism . . • He •re-
jected a portion of Jewish nationalism . .
Last week this same Bertrand Russell
wrote an. inspiring article favoring an
autonomous Jewish State in Palestine . .
Great philosophers are not afraid to
change their minds.
Rabbi Irving Miller of Long Island,
just back from a flying, visit to England,
is .very definite in his views. that the so-
called wave . of• anti-aemitism in the Brit-
ish Isles is of no consequence . . . He
believes that it is high time for the Zion-
ist leadership to Speak out in no uncer-
tain terms about the White Paper. •
—
-
To Christian Friend
By MARIE SYRKIN
There is something between us now:
The cry you did not raise.
You have washed your hands again.
Put down the pitcher.
This water will flow between us.
Give me back Jesus;
He is my brother.
He will walk with me
Behind the gray ghetto wall
Into the slaughter-house.
I will lead him into the lethal chamber;
He will lie down upon the poisoned
stone;
The little children prickled with the
death bubble
Will come unto him.
Return to him the yellow badge.
Give me back Jesus;
He is not yours.
(Reprinted from The Jewish Frontier)