ArA
Pa ge. Two
Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOV1TZ
THE JEWISH CONFERENCE
When the American Jewish Confer-
ence reconvenes in Cleveland, ,Feb. 17-
19, the major question that will con-
front the delegates will be whether
this movement is to prevail.
A strong sentiment exists among many
delegates that the Conference should be
disbanded. It is felt that as long as the
American Jewish Congress, Agudath Is-
rael, the Polish-Jewish Federation and
many other organizations insist upon
sending their own delegations to Europe,
the original hope to centralize Jewish ef-
forts has been lost.
• If the Conference disbands, it will be a
blow to genuine efforts for unity in Jew-
ish life. The only similar successful, ef-
fort, created by popular vote after World
War I, was the formation of the American
Jewish Congress under whose aegis a
united American Jewish community spoke
for our people at the peace conference.
The American Jewish Conference was in-
tended to re-create such unity. The in-
tention has failed.
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04;4 ARA WO*Wiiii5
:E: Yst.1$.:11 N E W S
Tolerance: A Way of Life
By KATE SMITH
"If you think you're entitled to more than your neighbor, you are
intolerant.
"If you have ever said of other human beings: 'They are all right in their
place,' you are intolerant.
"If you will not permit other . human beings to live their lives in their
own way, so long as they do not interfere with your Tights, you are intolerant.
"If you will not permit another human being to find a home in your
community, you are intolerant.
"I go further -than that. I say that if you are content to remain passive
and indifferent when others around you are intolerant, then you share the
guilt!
"I wish it were as fashionable to practice tolerance as it is to talk it .. .
Tolerance is a way of life. It is the American way. We cannot- violate it without
\insulting America's past and poisoning its future."
Strictly
Confidential
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
Copyright, 1946. Seven Arts
Feature Syndicate, Inc.
FASCIST FRONT
The Committee on Un-American Activi-
ties of the House of Representatives does
not like committees which , fight anti:—
Semitism ... Ernie Adamson,., chief. counsel
of the Congressional Committee, wrote a
THE POPULAR BALLOT
most amazing letter to the National Com-
Should the delegates in Cleveland de- mittee to Combat Anti,Semitism ... The
cide to perpetuate the Conference, it will letter reads, in part,-. like this: "I have re-
mean that our communities will be called
ceived• a copy of a- f6rmal petition being
upon to elect a new set of delegates by
distributed by. you, tegether with solicita-
popular-ballot. We doubt whether the sys-
tion of money for the purpose of controll-
tem introduCed when the Conference was
ing the thoughts of American citizens" ...
formed will be repeated, in view of the Now just think of it! . . . A committee bf
serious errors in balloting which gave
statesmen charaeterizing a petition againSt
seats in the Conference to minorities,
anti-Semitism as an effort to ."control
eliminating those who - received majority - thoughts"— . . The chairman of the Na-
votes.
tional Committee to Combat Anti-
By. permitting delegates to cast their Semitism answered Adamson: "It seems
entire sets of ballots—in Detroit's case in to us that you are far more concerned
groups of nine—for individual candidates,
with protecting fascists and anti-Semites
many were elected who had received than in exposing them".
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even fewer votes than some of the .de-
feated candidates.
ANSWER PERIOD
The major issue, however, is not
Yes, there is reason to believe that the
whether we shall have a democratically-
Attorney General will not move to re-
elected assembly, but ' will the groups
sume the trial against the seditionists.
enlisted in Conference memberships be
It is true that the campaign to rebuild
willing to abandon their own vested in-
Charles A. Lindbergh is only in its: initial
terests in exchange for • total American
stage . . . Don't be surprised if he is nom-
Jewish unity. At the moment, there is inated for the Senate on the Republican
little hope that this will materialize.
ticket.
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Notwithstanding .the insistence of
THE COMMONWEALTH ISSUE . .
Defense Organizations to refer to Father
The issue which helped to disrupt the Terrniniello as the "Defrocked- Priest" we
Conference was the adoption of the Jew-
state once more that' this anti-Semitic
ish Commonwealth in Palestine resolu-
clergyman was merely removed from
tion, with only three or four dissenting
his church in Alabama ... He was not de-
votes and a small number refraining from frocked.
voting.
The Anti-Defamation League deserves
- At that time, this decision was hailed as
credit for its action against a large Wis-
a great victory. Since then, men like Dr. consin Insurance COmpany which in-
Albert Einstein, an avowed Zionist, have structed its agents "not to solicit insur-
declared themselves in favor of the
ance from Africans, Hebrews, Chinese
Hashomer Hatzair policy of demanding etc."
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unlimited Jewish immigration in Pales-
tine leading to a Jewish majority, but op- MISCELLANY
posing immediate demands for a Com-
The actor who plays Justice Brandeis
monwealth.
in the recently released radio transcrip-
Hashomer Hatzair, a small but ideolog- tion of the life story of the great Ameri-
ically-strong Zionist youth party, opposed can Jew is rime' other than our good
the Commonwealth demand at the Con- friend Sam Jaffe. .
ference. In a recent article in the Zionist
The Ku Klux Klan is riding again in
Review of London, Arthur Ben Israel, Washington . . . The city is flooded with
Hashomer leader, outlining his party's K. K. K. leaflets reading: "We must have
viewpoint, stated: "Should ' the Zionist
help to put the niggers and Jews in their
movement insist on continuing the de-
proper standing. We need help at once!"
mand for a Jewish. State, they would only
Antoni Gronowicz's novel "Hitler's
dampen the impasse, further antagonize Wife" is an exciting story . . . The author
the Arab world and - at best bring us a insists that Hitler's marriage document
partition of Palestine, which we regard
and his will are merely tricks to cover up
as most dangerous."
his traces ,and that the Fuehrer is prob-
It is believed by some Conference dele-
ably in Argentina.
gates that the American Jewish Commit-
The press under played a recent anti-
tee would have found another excuse to
Semitic outbreak in Buenos Aires and be-
break away from the Conference, even if
lieve it or not the news story was sup-
the Commonwealth resolution were pressed because of the demand by hush-
shelved. -
minded Jewish businessmen of the Argen-'
With the shocking British double-cross
tines. -
Hats off to Warner Bros. for their short
policy continuing in Palestine, however,
and with the Arabs, in all their arrogance,
"Hitler Lives" . . . It's a must.
Welcome home Zelda Popkin, just back
issuing threats to Jewish life and property,
from a four month Red Cross mission in
there is a revival of sentiment that with-
Europe . . . Zelda is one of our best mys-
out political guarantees the Jewish Pales-
tinian position would become precarious.
tery writers.
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Thus, the Jewish Commonwealth ideal re-
ATTENTION: MR. O'DONNELL
mains a major need in Jewish life.
"The - Daily Noose" is an interesting'
Whatever the future decisions, it is
clear that the American Jewish Confer- parody tabloid published by the CIO . .
In it appears a Washington column en-
ence will not have easy sailing.
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titled "Capitol Stiff" by Don O'Jonnell
Under the caption "The Unknown Soldier
A BLOW BELOW THE BELT
Writes" ' we read the following letter
The last inning at the Anglo-American
which should be of special interest to
inquiry commission hearings in London
John O'Donnel, the Daily News 'column-
was a bad one for us. It was a hurtful ser-
ist: "Dear Mr. O'Donnell: The boys in our
ies of sessions during which British Co-
outfit are very grateful to you for help-
lonial officials dared to liken Zionists to
ing us understand the war . . . What saps
Nazis and to accuse us of having failed to
we were to have thought there was a
do our duty by Britain in the war.
struggle to annihilate Fascism when all
Perhaps it was typical of British policy
the time our real enemies were Eleanor
of betraying a trust to our people.
Roosevelt and the CIO . Your columns
But there is another inning coming.
have certainly built up our morale and
We are not giving up the ship!
we don't know how we could have licked
And Great Britain may yet meet her
match in little David fighting- for his the Nazis without you". .. .,, If you : can get
the "Noose don't miss. it, Mr. O'Donnell.
rights.
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Between
You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1946, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
STRAWS IN THE WIND
Here is a tip to Zionist political leaders
who are groping in the dark with regard
to Moscow's attitude on the Palestine
issue . . - The Soviet Government is
watching with interest the split within
the Arab League, which is widening . .
On one hand there is the solid bloc of
Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which has been
strengthened after the recent visit of Ibn
Saud to King . Farouk . :On the other
hand is the" Hashemite dynasty repre-
'Sented by the rulers of Iraq and Trans-
jordan, and those proposing the creation
Of a Greater. Syria, to be composed of
Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Trans-
jordan . • . In the fight developing be-
tween these two, blocs, Moscow sides with
Saudi-Arabia and Egypt against the
Hashemites . . One of the reasons for
this attitude is that Egypt and Saudi-
Arabia are not leaning towards Britain
as are the rulers of Iraq and Transjordan
. .. Another' reason is that Soviet Russia
is definitely against the plan for a Great-
er Syria because this project emanates
from the British Foreign Office . . .
Speaking of Transjordan, we hear that
American Zionist leaders are mobilizing
judicial forces to give Britain a legal
battle on - the announced intention to
sever Transjordan from the Palestine
Mandate and grant this territory com-
plete independence.
American 'League for a Free Palestine
has extended its activities to Argentina
. . . "Critica," the most widely read af-
ternoon paper in Buenos Aires, carries a
large advertiSement of • the League, the
text of which is the fact that two other
large Argentine newspapers, "La Prensa"
and "La Nacion," refused to print the,
advertisement because it urges a boycott
of English goods . . . These two papers
are pro-British and carry daily a great
volume of advertising from English.
firms.
For the first time in its history the
New York Schola Cantorum, one of the
country's outstanding choral societies,
will present two Palestinian cantatas .. .
They will be featured in a concert at
N. Y. Town Hall on Feb. 17, when com-
positions by Julius Chajes will be pre-
sented.
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THE PALESTINE ISSUE
Emanuel Neumann, who displayed ex-
ceptional ability in defending the Pales-
tine case at the inquiry committee hear-
ings in Washington, is proceeding to
Palestine to lend his aid to the Jewish
Agency . . Arthur Lurie, former secre-
tary of Dr. Weizmann in London who is
now with the American Zionist Emer-
gency Council, is with him . . . They will,
prepare the Jewish case for presentation
to the inquiry committee at hearings in
Jerusalem.
Now that Britain has agreed to admit
1,500 Jews a month to Palestine, pend-
ing recommendations of the inquiry
committee, it can be disclosed that Prime
Minister Attlee promised that the White
Paper would not be enforced . . . He gave
this promise to Harold Laski when the
latter discussed the Palestine issue with
him in his capacity as chairman of the
British Labor Party . . . Attlee told Laski
that England's pledges to the Jews would
have to be fulfilled gradually . . • This
is taken to mean that he definitely op-
poses the creation of a Jewish State . . .
Foreign Minister Bevin opposes the
abrogation of the White Paper . . . He
is supported by Herbert Morrison and
Stafford Cripps.
As a result of the repeated terrorist
attacks in Palestine, nearly 40 per cent
of the British police force there has
asked to be relieved of duty . . . No less
than 1,500 British policemen have ap-
plied for resignation during the last four
months. . . Many of them are sincerely
impressed by r the courageous stand of
the Jews.
• Friclay,, February
1946
Heard in
The Lobbies
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright, 1946, Indepndent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)
SUBVERSIVE, ACTIVITIES
The most subversive activity of the day
is the attack on the Jewish survivors of
more than a decade of slaughter, torture
and generally inhuman treatment. Per-
haps Freud_ could explain it. Perhaps he
would say that those who stood by while
millions of innocent Jews were- done to
death, never lifting a finger or raising a
voice to save them, are ridden 'with a
million complexes, worst of which is an
overwhelming, if subconscious, guilt-feel-
ing. Since their lives would be unbear-
able if they permitted this guilt-feeling
to dominate, they seek compensation and
. try to eliminate it by telling themselves
and the world that the guilty ones are
victims themselves. -
Analogous are the isolationists who
fought to keep our country unprepared
and are now trying to prove that Roose-
velt, and not the Nazis or the Japanese
war lords, was guilty of _Pearl .Harbor.
Conscience moves in mysterious ways
its contradictions to perform . .
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POST-WAR BLUES
They're whispering in the -.corridors
that a lot of the organizational boys who
considered themselves indispensable to
the Jewish scene for four years, are
worried about returning talent with
homing pigeons on their lapels. It's been
so long since they've seen competition in
the 'employment offices that they're
slightly panicky. Some of them are so
desperate that they're beginning - to take
their work seriously.
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DEBIT AND CREDIT COLUMN
Walter Winchell has confidentially ad-
vised your correspondent (and a few
million others) that Henry Morgenthau
has an offer from a syndicate to do a
financial column. He might do a few
books on the side. Suggested titles:
Treasury island, Washington Money-Go-
Round, Taxes Ranger, OutWAR BOuND.
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PROUD PAPA
One of . the proudest papas in town is
James Orthont, sire of Jerry Lester;
daddy knew Jerry was the greatest
comedian in the world many years ago
and never was too tired to tell you about
it. Now he can point to the- clippings.
Jerry is climbing fast.
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REYNOLDS
Who sad that former Senator Reynolds'
hate outfit has signed off? It is still op-
erating from Portland, Ore,
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DIPLOMATIC TOUCH
Is it true . that an old tenant may once -
again occupy the Russian Embassy in
Washington, and not due to the housing
shortage—namely, Maxim Litvinov?
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Shep Led the Way
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By MAEANNA CHESERTON-MANGLE
"It's spite work that's what it is. If
I'd known. that Ted Nickson was going
to sell to Jews, I'd have bought the house
myself." Mrs. Moran was silent as her
husband continued to storm. He would
have "no truck with them" nor would
he allow Tommy to play with their
"brats". Still Mrs. Moran kept her coun-
sel. Just last Sunday the priest had
preached on "Who Is Thy Brother?" She
hadn't met the new neighbors. She would
wait until Mr. Moran wasn't there, and
she would take over one of the pies
she'd just taken out of the oven. She
wanted to be friendly.
In no time little Maurice was over
to watch Tommy and his pals play hand-
ball against the garage door, but Tommy
Was his father's son! Maurice wasn't
coming over into his yard.
Weeks passed and one day Shep,
Tommy's dog, came racing up to the
house barking for all Ire was worth. No
one was at home. Maurice, playing alone
in his garden heard the dog and instinc-
tively knew that something was wrong.
Shep, glad to get someone's attention,
led the way; first at a trot and then at
full speed down the hill. There at the
bottom was Tommy—all his fight gone.
His express wagon had tipped over at
the turn, throwing him into the •ditch.
It was 'a painful little leg that Mrs. Levy
nursed that afternoon until Mrs. Moran
came home, but with the healing of the
leg came a healing of the family feud.
The Morans and the Levys are no longer
members of racial and religious castes.
They are neighbors,' friends—Americans.