Page Two Between You and Me By BORIS SMOLAR (Copyright. 1943. J.T.A., Inc.) WASHINGTON NOTES A vice-president of one of the big de- partment stores in New York has been selected by a Jewish organization to pro- ceed •to Turkey to check whether authori- ties prevent Jewish refugees from pass- ing through the country in transit to Palestine . The State, Department, which maintains that Turkey is not re- turning any Jewish refugees who cross. its frontiers from the Balkan countries, has given this man the right to go to Turkey and make his own investigation and return with a report to this country. Those who criticize Assistant Secretary of State Breckenridge Long as respons- ible for practically killing the.. resolution in Congress suggesting the establishment of a government commission to effect the rescue of Jews from Europe would be interested to learn that he warned against "an entirely negative action" with re- gard to this resolution . . ."It would be very dangerous to vote it down," he said before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, "very unwise, in a way" . . . He expressed his opinion that this is a very important moment in the history of the refugee movement, and emphasized that "the Jewish people are looking forward" to the decision which the Committee on Foreign Affairs will take on the resolu- tion . . . "If an entirely negative action . were taken, it would be misconstrued and might react against the Jewish people under German control," he is quoted in the official record as testify- ing. THE JEWISH NEWS Friday, December 24, 1943 Quotation of the Week The Balfour Declaration and the mandating of Palestine to the British, started an enterprise and into this enterprise has been poured a fortune in money, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and a whole world of hope. The question is no longer whether there should be a Jewish home and a Jewish nation in Palestine. There IS one. It exists. It is a reality. For this, tens of thousands of teachers and students have unburied the language of the Bible and Talmud, exhumed it from the dust of antique books and made it a living spoken tongue. For this, tens of thousands of youths from the ghettos of Europe have broken their backs upon the stones of Palestinian roads, and under its burning skies lifted their songs. For this, colonies have been founded and gov- erned in the very spirit of the Mosaic law, translating the ethics of an ancient religion into a modern cooperative economy. For this, the desert has been made "to blossom like the rose," and for this, the wasteland has become again a "land flowing with milk and honey." The question: Shall there be a Jewish nation in a Jewish homeland? has been asked and answered already. It cannot be raised again. The question now is not: Shall there be a Jewish homeland? The question is: Shall the existing Jewish homeland be allowed to grow and thrive, or: Shall it be destroyed? —DOROTHY THOMPSON. Strictly Confidential By PHINEAS J. BIRON (Ccpyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate) Purely Commentary By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ WEDGEWOOD ON WEIZMANN Heard in The Lobbies By ARNOLD LEVIN (Copyright, 1943, Independent Jewish Press Service) INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE Oil was probably foremost on the agenda . ofthe American mission that has recently visited with King ibn Saud, but the idea of such a mission was first fathered by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, presi- dent of the Jewish Agency, who pro- posed it to FDR during his visit to the White House some months ago . . . Dr. Weizmann, incidentally, will be visited one of these days by a certain U. S. roving envoy, who made a terrible mess of a mission to the Near East. The gentleman in question brought back a memorandum bearing all the ear- marks of Arab nationalist influence. Perhaps he some he was being ob- jective, but some of the senators who re- turned from a world tour and probed the very same problems disagreed with him . . . The reason for his forthcoming con- ference with Dr. Weizmann is to unlearn some of the fallacies that he had so read- ily accepted . . . Pessimists can relax, there are still many open-minded men in Washington. All they seek is authen- tic *information, figures, facts and they'll arrive at their own conclusions. The Zionists are well prepared to counteract Eastern glamour with Jewish National Home statistics . . And while it is true that the boys of the American Council for Judaism are gumshoeing in Washington lobbies working against the cause of their own people, it is also true that Washington circles . are becoming aware of who's who in American Jewry. The differences of opinion that exist between David Ben Gurion and Dr. The Japanese newspaper "YL.mi-ouri Chaim Weizmann may prove damaging Shim-buni" reports that Rabbi Stephen to Zionist aspirations in the sense that S. Wise persuaded President Roosevelt some people may "suspect" that Dr. to order the withdrawal of Shakespeare's Weizmann is not militant enough in his "Merchant of Venice" from school demands upon Great Britain in behalf of shelves. . . Japan's morale must be the Jewish position in Palestine. pretty low if her 'propaganda mouthpiece If we are to judge by the opinion of concocts such ludicrous stories. ' * * Don't be surprised if the Polish Min- the most militant Christian Zionist, the ZIONIST AFFAIRS ister to Mexico will have to resign be- late Lord Wedgwood, our faith in Dr. Weizmann will be strengthened. A Zionist delegation may be received cause of the increasing horrification, in Lord ("Jos") Wedgwood was a sick American quarters, over the treatment by President Roosevelt early next month man when he wrote to Dr. Weizmann . • . There are indications that Roosevelt accorded Jewish inmates in the Polish the following letter, which was made and Churchill cvonferred on the Pales- concentration camps in Mexico City. Thanks to Walter Winchell for this public in England only a short time ago: tine question during their stay in Cairo. "My Dear Chaim, suggestion epitaph for Goebbels: From "I do not feel that I have ever The statement on U. S. policy with sauerkraut to sour grapes. By DAVID EWEN properly expressed the gratitude I regard to Palestine made by Assistant * * * feel to you for a tithe of what you Secretary of State Long before the House Another symphony season is now in ZION NEWS have brought into my life. Committee in Washington came as a full swing throughout the length and "The Jews may owe you much, but disappointment to Zionist leaders . . If the Emergency Council for Zionist breadth of the country. so do I. You have always been- This statement, the first of its kind, did Affairs were to tell tales out of school Gustav Mahler once said that there are there—from a breakfast long ago not mention the Jews, the Balfour Dec- it could tell of great political work in no great orchestras, only great conduc- to a flying-boat—always working laration, the Jewish National Home . . . Washington . . . One of America's best- tors. This is, of course, to be interpreted never giving up, never resentful of It spoke of American interest in Pales- known liberal statesmen is devoting loosely. But there is a great deal of truth the amateur libertarian, always kind. tine's future from. the viewpoint of the much time to clarifying the Palestine to his dictum. Our orchestras are the "You have set the impatient an "larger aspect Of world security and issue for some of the thicker skulls on greatest in the world, becauSe we have example of patience, and a some- world peace" . . . In the light of . growing Capital Hill. the greatest conductors in the world to what lonely man has ever had your pro-Arab propaganda in Washington, direct them. The Hartford Zionist District recently honest friendship. When we go conducted by interested American indi:- inscribed Pierre van Paassen in the In Boston, there is the incomparable down finally to the House of Kings, viduals of influence, this statement is Golden Book of the Jewish National Serge Koussevitzky, who this season is we shall both, in our own way, be certainly calculated to appease every- Fund in recognition of his great message, celebrating his 20th anniversary with received with 'Well done, thou good body but the Jews . . . One must not take contained in "The Forgotten Ally." that orchestra. Koussevitzky, who is of and faithful servant. Welcome into it for granted, however, that the pro- Jewish birth-, makes Boston one of the Elaborate preparations are already the House of thy Lord,'—and that I Arab influence in higher circles in Wash- under way for the celebration of Dr. world's great centers of orchestral music- ington remains unchallenged. shall largely owe to you.—Jos." making through his 'genius. • Chaim Weizmann's 70th birthday—which * * * Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, chairman of comes in November; 1944. • In New York, the great Jewish con- the American Zionist Council, is today ductor, Bruno Walter, will be heard from Samuel Caplan, editor of "The Con- FLINT'S REPLY TO BERGER the busiest Jewish leader in the country gress Weekly," has been named to re- Flint Jews , have been looking for a time to time with the Philharmonic Sym- . . . In fact, Jewish interests in Palestine. place Lillie Schultz as secretary to the way in which to reply to a former rabbi phony .Society. have in Dr. Silver the most active de- Governing Council of the American —Elmer Berger—who now conducts the Vladimir Golschmann is once again- at fender, whose influence in Washington Jewish Congress. countrywide anti-Zionist campaign in the head of - the - St: Louis - Symphony * * * is much greater than that of any other behalf of the American Council for Ju- Orchestra. Zionist leader. STAGE AND SCREEN Another great conductor, Pierre Mon- daism. * * * They have therefore adopted as their teux, one of the most aristocratic musical Going abroad to entertain- the boys RELIEF REFLECTIONS early .in the new • year are orchestra project Nachlat Flint—a movement to interpreters of our time, again will guide The Council of Jewish Women is now leader Abe Lyman and that funny trio, establish a colony in Palestine bearing the San Francisco Symphony. The Philadelphia Orchestra is conduct- - compiling a gigantic master file of fam- the Ritz Brothers . . . Not going abroad the name of . the city of Flint. The progress attained thus far in be- ed this year by its brilliant music direc- ilies disrupted by the war and Nazi per- as an entertainer, though he. had been secution . . . This file is made up of planning to, is comedian Zero Mostel, half' of Nachlat Flint is a certain indica- tor, Eugene Ormandy. scraps of information from all corners of who instead probably will play the lead- tion that the rebuke to anti-Zionists of . The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 'is the world . . . It will be of the greatest ing role in the Theater Guild's produc- Flint and elsewhere will be complete again led by the cogent Fritz Reiner, conductor of Dionysiac energy. value during the post-war period, since tiOn of Franz Werfel's "Jacobowski• and and emphatic. * * In Cleveland, Artur Rodzinski's post it already contains names of thousands the Colonel." was assumed by one of the most brilliant THE MASTER BUILDERS of European Jews who' today are in con- of our 'younger men, Erich Leinsclorf, centration camps and labor battalions . . ABOUT PEOPLE The Jews of Palestine remain the mast- who was the 'principal German conductor Originally begun when the Council er builders.- At a time when most of the of the Metropolitan Opera House. There, Prof. Albert Einstein 'is hard at work undertook the task of locating the rela- on a special assignment for the U. S. news about our people is either in , the despite his youth, he had won for 'himself tives of Jewish families scattered by Navy. form of reports of mass murders by Nazis the accolade of the entire music world by persecution from their native villages, About to make his screen debut is or division within the ranks of our people his achieVement in succeeding the late the file is expanding daily as fresh re- in the democratic countries, Palestine piano virtuoso Artur Rubinstein, who Artur Bodanzky and singlehanded taking ports come in from refugees in all parts will give movie audiences a sample of continues to build and to create a whole- over the entire . Wagnerian repertory. of Asia, Africa and the United States. his art in "Three Cheers for the Boys." some atmosphere for young and old. . According to the latest reports, he Pictorially, the achievements of our Charlie Friedman, libretto director of will be inducted into the armed forces on people is described in fascinating style in Billy Rose's new. hit, 'Carmen Jones," is Dec. 31. the same fellow who wrote and directed the United Palestine Appeal 1943 Year- A new conductor has come to the Kan- that hit of a few yeari ago, "Pins . and book issued on the occasion of the "Night sas Philharmonic—Efrem Kurtz, who has Moss Hart had tears in his eyes when Needles." of Stars" presentation in New York a acquired a long and rigorous experience answering curtain calls at the premier Youngest court attendant. in the his- short time ago. The hearts of readers of of his newest and finest . . . He tells tory of New York is 17-year-old Max this book must thrill at . the sight of with the baton as director of the Ballet friends of experiences he's had in gath- Hausen, who, an ex-soldier at his early. photographs showing a healthy people R.usse where he proved his authority, ering data for "Winged Victory." It age.' (he received a medical discharge building a great future for the settlers in personal magnetism and interpretative powers with performances of a varied seems that wherever he came, the mili- from the Army), decided' to help lick the Eretz Israel. repertoire , over a period of a decade. . • tary bigwigs arranged special parades in manpower problem at General Sessions Only the malshinim and the thoroughly Among the younger men,, none is more - his. honor. He• was pleased until a dis- Court instead of going back to 'school: • uninformed can possibly remain indiffer- gifted, or gives greater promise, than 32-' gruntled- air cadet . , frankly .enlightened ent to the great Je'vvish accomplishments. * * year-old Izler Solomon.: This season, he him regarding 'the factS of life: The is once again guiding the Buffalo Phil; cadet complained; Of the loss of time WEEKLY GIGGLE Division—but the prisoners refused to harmonic which, through his talent and from study . and the fatiguing march • To Leonard' Lyons we . are indebted for give any further explanation . But routine whenever a celebrity comes to the story of the crack Nazi troops who, the mystery was solved when an officer drive and integrity, he is rapidly con- the post. Since -then, Moss Hart has in- Upon their capture in Italy, insisted on suddenly , remembered something pertin- verting into an ensemble of major sig- nificance. sisted that parades in his honor be dis- . telling the American intelligence officers ent . . . He rushed to the files, and un- Finally, mention should be made of 254 pensed with: For many years now . in that they were members of the Herman earthed a 1940 newspaper clipping re- year-old Leonard Bernstein, whose re- the big time, Hart enjoys telling of the Meyer Division . . . The officers had. porting Goering's 'boast: "If the British. cent appearances with the New . York- days when he worded for the National heard of the Hermann Goering Division, ever bomb Berlin, you can call me Philharmonic have. won. him the acclaim. Cloak and Suit Co. of course, but never of a Herman Meyer Meyer." of all critics. YOU SHOULD KNOW Jewish Symphony Conductors Moss Ha rtinia "' WAY*** 4 .-1016%*4•4404 **