Page Two
THE JEWISH NEWS
Purely
Commentary
Louis Marshall on Zionism
In view of renewed efforts to organize the anti-Zionist element in Michi-
gan, the following statement,, made by Louis Marshall in 1918, is of special
interest at this time:
"I have, never been identified, and am not now in any way connected,
with the Zionist Organization. I have never favored the creation of a sov-
ereign Jewish state. My interest in Jewish affairs is largely from the religious
point of view. Yet, I am so impressed with the reasons which I have sought
to present to you, that I would regard antagonism to Zionism at the present
time as an act of treachery to the welfare of Judaism . . . The Zionists,
whether their view be sound or otherwise, are the advocates of an affirmative
policy. It is one that appeals to the imagination. It is replete with poetry.
It is regarded by the religious-minded of all creeds as tending to bring about
the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. It aims at the reconstruction of a land
which has been under the oppressors' heel for centuries and which
inspires enthusiasm in the hearts of those not easily stirred. What can a
handful of men whose program must be one of negation accomplish against
so positive a program as that of the Zionists, endorsed as it is by the °Teat
liberal powers of the world? The outcome would be pitiable, from the stand-
point of the anti-Zionists. If I belonged to the Zionist Organization, I would
ask for nothing better than that such a convention as that which you had in
mind be held. I would be like Mrs. Pardington seeking to keep back the
Atlantic Ocean with a broom. You would be simply overwhelmed."
By PHILIP SLOMOYITZ
NEW PLATFORM FOR ACTION
A new platform for action must be
found by world Jewry in the serious
task of assuring the application of a
Bill of Rights to the precarious position.
of nearly 2,000,000 of our people who
have survived the Nazi holocaust, and in
guaranteeing international adherence to
pledges for the re-establishment of the
Jewish nationality in Palestine.
It is clear that if Jews are to be treat-
ed on a basis Of equality everywhere,
and if Palestine is again to become Eretz
Israel, the sacredness of pledges must be
emphasized.
American Jewry, the largest and most
influential Jewish community in the
world, must take the lead in formulat-
ing a program for action and in putting
it into effect.
Between
You and Me
But first we must cease to be "a nation
of leaders with no one to lead," and we-
must face issues with a sense of realism
and with courage.
*
*
*
LIVE UP TO YOUR PLEDGES!
A major demand will have to be that
the nations of the world, primarily Great
Britain and our own government, should
live up to the pledges made to the Jewish
people that a Jewish National Home—
lately the term has been Jewish Com-
monwealth—will be created in Palestine.
Both political parties in this country
are on record in favor of a Jewish Pales-
tine, and all labor groups in the land
favor this objective.
By BORIS SMOLAR
But there has to be some houseclean-
ing to avoid difficulties that come from
groups like the Bergsonites who under-
take to sponsor resolutions in Congress
on their own; and to defeat de-
structive efforts of the Council for
Judaism whose propaganda activities not
only becloud the issue but create mis-
understanding not only among non-Jews
but also among Jews who should know
better than to fall for false propaganda
confusing the issue of state and church.
*
*
*
THE FORCES OF REACTION
The latest effort on the part of an
anti-Zionist group to invade the Jewish
community of Detroit is proof that forces
of reaction are aiming at the heart of
Jewish hopes—even in this hour of trial
for our people.
This group has not learned the basic
lesson that homelessness must be ended,
and it has not learned that homelessness
can not be terminated through philan-
thropy but must be backed up by politi-
cal action.
Can't these people learn from Louis
Marshall, whose statement, in 1918 proved
that his genius was rooted in Jewish de-
votion? Read his statement, ye followers
of Lessing Rosenwald! Perhaps you will
repent!
*
*
*
FAITH AND COURAGE
If we have faith and if we retain our
courage, we shall not lose the battle for
justice.
The non-Jewish world is not cruel, and
the Jews remain "rachamonim bnai
rachamonim"—merciful children of a
merciful people.
But we must not lose heart and we
must not fall into the pitfalls of despair.
There is no ground for despair.
As long as the world fights for justice,
we shall also attain justice.
And the redemption of Zion is a plank
-in the world platform for justice.
(Copyright, 1945, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)
SAN FRANCISCO ECHOES!
WRONG NUMBER
Very few people in America know that
Soviet Foreign Commissar Molotov, who
played such an important role at the San
Francisco Conference, has a Jewish
brother-in-law in this country . . . He is
Sam Karp of Bridgeport, Conn., who is
married to Molotov's sister . . . It was
known in San Francisco that Molotov,
who is very fond of Karp, asked the lat-
ter to meet him during his stay at the
conference, but transportation difficulties
prevented the meeting of the two.
Elsa Maxwell's Party Line column in
the New York Post rang in a wrong
number the other day. For two days Miss
Maxwell bubbled with enthusiasm over
a cocktail party in San Francisco given
by the Egyptian ambassador there. In
one column she described the "perfect
English" of Ibn Saud's son, Feisal. Feisal
failed to indicate the slightest knowledge -
of English at his press conference, at
which an interpreter served as inter-
mediary between H. R. H. and the San
Francisco newsmen. Miss Maxwell also
wrote that "to them (the Saudi Arabians)
Arabia includes Iraq, Palestine, Damascus
and parts of Syria, but in order not to
cause bad feeling they call the part Ibn
Saud rules over directly, Saudi Arabia
after his family name." Without know-
ing it Miss Maxwell, who has been sym-
pathetic to the Jewish cause, passed on
some very slick propaganda line de-
posited at her doorstep . . . You may ex-
pect a great deal of similar subtle pro-
Arab propaganda—via pictures, etc.—
with the Iraq Regent here as guest of
the White House.
A hotel clerk at Santa Fe was handed
a very interesting letter by the Arab
delegation which spent a night or two
there. The letter read: Charge all ex-
penses to the Oil Company."
Dmitri Manuilsky, head of the Ukrain-
ian delegation at the San Francisco Con-
ference, is the only Jewish member in all
the three Soviet delegations participating
in the UNCIO . . . He speaks Russian
and French, but no English.
At San Francisco members of the Arab,
delegations were boasting that the United
States would send no less than $12,000,-
000 in Lend-Lease supplies to Saudi
Arabia during 1945 . . . Arab propagan-
dists were busy in San- Francisco spread-
ing the "news" that the pan-Arab League
would be ready to agree to the admis-
sion of 100,000 Jews from Europe to
Palestine within a period of 10 years pro-
viding that the Jews agree that Pales-
tine becomes an independent country
with an Arab majority.
No one can possibly deny the existence
of sacred pledges, and neither Republi-
cans nor Democrats will want to have it
said that they failed to adhere to party
pledges.
Heard in
The Lobbies
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright, 1945, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
It is safe to state that American politi-
cal leaders are sincere in their stand in
favor of a Jewish Palestine. With the end
Of the European war, there is no reason
why specific plans should not be under-
taken to assure the realization of the
Zionist ideal.
Dr. Abba HMO. Silver believes in
frank speaking whenever we demand
action in behalf of a Jewish Palestine,
and if he is—as we believe he is—a
powerful factor in the program for ag-
gressive efforts, he should be recalled
to leadership.
*
*
*
HOUSE CLEANING
Of course, there will have to be some
house cleaning. It is deplorable that there
is lack of internal unity—but it is a mis-
take to assume that there Is lack of un-
derstanding on the major objectives of
the movement.
Friday, June T, 1945
A. G. Brotman, executive secretary of
the Board of Deputies of British Jews,
Who came as an observer to San Fran-
cisco, had his trip interrupted by a Nazi
torpedo .. The ship on which he sailed
was sunk e in the middle of the Atlantic,
but Brotman, after being rescued, in-
sisted that he must reach the United
States in time for the San Francisco Con-
ference . . . He was put on another vessel
which brought him to our shores just a
few days prior to Germany's surrender.
*
*
*
THE ANTI SEMITIC FRONT
Government agencies watching the ac-
tivities of subversive groups in this coun-
try were aware of the fact that a certain
anti-Semitic organization shipped to San
Francisco 17 cases of anti-Jewish liter-
ature for distribution during the United
Nations Conference . . . Measures were
taken to see that this literature should
not be distributed.
Homer Maertz, the fellow who advo-
cates the sterilization of Jews in the
United States, was in San Francisco with
large batches of literature . . . He plan-
ned to picket the hotels of the American
delegation, but was apparently compelled
to change his plan when he realized that
it might cost him his liberty.
A recent issue of "Women's' Voice",
using Henry Ford as an authority, says
that the Jews started the last war; the
Jews wrote the last peace; the Jews
"dominated" Woodrow Wilson . . This
despite repeated retractions by Ford.
*
*
*
MILITARY NOTES
.
Maj. Henry Plitt, the Jewish para-
trooper who captured Julius Streicher in
his hideout on a Bavarian farm, is 26 .. .
Prior to joining the U. S. Army he was
connected with a New York law firm .. .
He was wounded several times on the
German front and is the holder of sev-
eral decorations.
\
Lt. Col. Abel Schechter, who was di-
rector of national radio news and special
events for NBC in New York, has re-
ceived the Legion of Merit . . . He was
awarded this decoration for "exceptional-
ly meritorious conduct" in establishing
an extensive radio transmission system
for Gen. MacArthur's command.
*
*
ZIONIST NOTE
The' prolonged . stay in London of David
ben Gurion, whose arrival at the San
Francisco Conference had been antici-
pated, is believed to indicate a forth-
coming statement regarding Palestine by
the British government . . . American
Zionist leaders may speed to London for
Zionist talks next month.
*
*
*
PERSONALITIES
A new Jewish piano virtuoso has
emerged in the person of Zadel Skolov-
sky, who will be soloist with the N. Y.
Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall next 'Fall.
He taught piano to little Sonya Horo-
witz, daughter of famous virtuoso Vladi-
mir Horowitz, son-in-law of Toscanini
. . . Michael Todd, producer, is wearing
the stars of a brigadier general for his
Paris mission for the War Department.
*
*
*
NOTE ON. WAR CRIMINALS
Leonard Lyons comes up with these
two nifties in his Lyons Den: "Ex-Am-
bassador Hugh Gibson, the historian, ad-
vises that Goering be' given paper and
pencil with a warning that as soon as he
stops writing the secrets of the Nazi
regime he will be killed . . • A corre-
spondent who Visited Berlin suggested
this epitaph for Goebbels: 'Here No Long-
er Lies Paul Joseph Goebbels."
•
*
THE HATEISTS
The KKK is active again under its own
name, according to a report of The
Propaganda Battlefront, Friends of De-
mocracy's Bulletin. It is operating out of
Chattanooga, Tenn., and is headed by
R. W. Byerley . . . The same source re-
ports that a new, super-secret organiza-
tion is now operating in Chicago, the
Gentiles Underground, headed by Milo
Blish Pinkerton . . . Note the shrewdness
of the name, intended to imply that
"gentiles" must operate underground in
a "Jew-controlled U. S."
*
*
*
LOS ANGELES EDITORS—NOTE!
June 13-17 has been set as the date for
the second annual Kingdom Convention
of the United Israel Fellowship, a Jew-
baiting, Catholic-baiting organization,
which claims that the Anglo-Saxons are
"God's chosen people" and that the Jews
are second-class Israelites.
Strictly
Confidential
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
Copyright, 1945, Seven Arts
Features Syndicate, Inc.
LISTEN HERE
Walter Winchell asks us to relay to
you a warning concerning Edward James
Smythe's "Veterans' Association, Inc.",
with headquarters at Washington, which
peddles books and "victory stamps" . .
Smythe's salesmen are on a 40 per cent
commission basis, and the other 60 per
cent are used for anti-democratic activi-
ties . . . Smythe was one of the 30 de-
fendants in the mass sedition trial . • .
Recently he arranged a stamp sale for a
Washington cathedral, giving half the
proceeds to the Cathedral and keeping
the rest . . . And he managed to per='.
suade a gullible Washington stamp
columnist to help him promote the stamp
campaign.
We attended the trial of the Morris
Anmuth case in Philadelphia, but the
verdict is not yet in as we write this . .
But even if the jury decides against An-
muth, the young Jewish businessman
who was beaten up by two policemen for
booing Governor Dewey, let us tell you
that Anmuth's attorney, George Press-
man, did a bang-Up job • . . Mr. Pressman
made it clear that the case was important
because the very principles of democracy
were involved.
*
*
*
REPORTAGE
Supreme Court Justice Jackson, Amer-
ican head of the War Crimes Commission,
is taking his appointment very seriously,
and has told intimates that the war
crimes trials will be of the nature of
courts-martial, with no long-drawn-out
processes of the civilian type.
Jacob Epstein, a retired merchant liv
ing in Baltimore, who is a philanthropist,
traveler and student of world - affairs,
asks us this pertinent question: "Why
not ask' this and future peace Conferences
to adopt Esperanto as the universal lan-
guage?" . Mr. Epstein believes that
Esperanto—which, you recall, was in-
vented by Dr. Ludwig Zamenhoff, a
Polish Jew—should be the language in
which all proceedings should be con-
ducted at the peace conference.
*
*
*
PALESTINE NEWS
The backers of a new Congress resolu-
tion on Palestine, initiated by the Hebrew-
Committee of National Liberation, have.
decided to disregard Dr. Stephen S.
Wise's warning that such a resolution.
under the sponsorship of Peter Bergson
would "constitute a tragic disservice to
the Jewish people".
American Zionist leaders, who expect-
ed a great deal from Dorothy Thompson's
recent visit to Palestine, are sadly dis-
appointed . . Dorothy's syndicated ar-
ticles on Palestine were anything but
Zionistic in tone.
Did you know that 72 publications ap-
pear regularly in Palestine? Twelve of
them are daily newspapers.
*
*
*
WAR ECHOES
Our good friend Maurice A. Bergman,
ace publicist, has been chosen chairman -
of the Public Relations Division of the
War Activities Committee of the Motion
Picture Industry . . . This places Maurice
in a very responsible position, and is an
honor he- really deserves.
The Army has now completed, and ere
long will be showing to the public, an
extraordinary film showing the entire
AEF European campaign from- the initial .
preparations to the final surrender of ihe .
Nazis . . Director of the picture is ex-
Hollywoodite Garson Kanin, who now
hold the Army rank of captain.
Screen star John Garfield, now wear-
ing Uncle Sam's khaki, plans to branch:
out as a producer after the war, with a•
biographical film on Barney Ross, chain,
pion boxer and Marine hero, as a starter.
*
*
*
ABOUT PEOPLE
Pierre van Paassen received the 1944
Award of The Protestant for his book
"The Forgotten Ally" .. . . At a recent din-
ner in his honor Van Paassen warned
that World War III is just around the
corner unless we find ways to smash pro-
Nazi-anti-Soviet propaganda in this coun-
try.
Congratulations to James N. Rosenberg
on becoming a grandfather . . . A son
was born to the wife of his son, Robert,
who is a first lieutenant in the U. S. Air
Force, stationed in Italy.
Congressman Samuel Dickstein of New
York may soon be appointed to an im-
portant post by President Truman.
Leonard. Bernstein, the gifted young
composer whose song hits from the
Musical "On the Town" are now avail-
able on records, is going to dedicate the
next couple of months to the composi-
tion of a major work for conductor Serge
Koussevitzky, his musical mentor.