THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Two

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Purely
Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOV1TZ

A BOAT NAMED 'MAX NORDAU'

A boat formerly known as the 'Smyrna'
was renamed the "Max Nordau" and it
has taken its place with the historic ves-
sels which have evaded obstacles set up
by cruel men and have succeeded in
bringing helpless men and women to
the haven of hope and revival in Pales-
tine.

It was a magnificent gesture on the
part of the brave Jews who, determined
that Jews shall not be kept from enter-
ing Palestine, have set up an under-
ground, are paying the high costs of
even the most dilapidated vessels and
are naming them after the- great builders
of the Zionist cause.
Max Nordau had earned the distinction
of having his name perpetrated by
being linked with the
•
humanitarian
efforts to re-create a free Jewish life in
Palestine. The 1,800 men, women and
children who landed in Palestine on the
boat named "Max Nordau" will help
keep the name of the late Zionist leader
among the immortals in Jewish history.
* * * *

ATTLEE'S 'GIMMICK'

Analyzing the "gimmick" offered by
Prime Minister Attlee in the form of
conditions which are affecting the chances
of settling 100,000 Jews in ' Palestine,
Richard Mowrer, N. Y. Post foreign cor-
respondent, cabling his newspaper from
Cairo, declares that "there's one way the
U. S. can extricate itself from this situa-
tion (the demand that this country help
garrison Palestine)—by permitting im-
migration to the U. S. of displaced Jews
who wish to go there on a parallel basis
with Jewish immigration to Palestine.
That would puncture the valid Arab
charge that it is hypocrisy for the U. S.
to seek Jewish immigration to Palestine
but not to America."
Liberal Christians like Mr. Mowrer
have been consistent in demanding such
changes in the immigration policies of
our country. It is a clear indication that
their pro-Zionism is based on deep-
rooted humanitarian convictions.
Mr. Mowrer's Cairo c Me exposing Mr.
Attlee's "gimmick" is c.". even greater
interest and importance because of the fol-
lowing declaration:
"Britain's reason for requesting aid of
the U. S. troopsthat the Jewish under-
ground organization must be disarmed
and that the British can't undertake that
alone—doesn't fool anyone here. British
forces are in Palestine because of Russia,
not because of the Jews.
"Besides, where is the logic in disarm-
ing a Jewish defense group like the
Haganah—organized to protect Jewish
colonies from attacking Arab bands—
and at the same time bringing back to
Palestine exiled Arab leaders who insti-
gated Arab revolts against the British
as well as attacks against the Jews?"
This is plain speaking based on inform-
ation secured by one of America's -most
brilliant foreign correspondents. Why
don't some of the others, who have had
a chance to study the schemes of Perfidi-
ous Albion, speak as frankly? A bit more
courage on the part of our foreign corres-
pondents would go a long way in assur-
ing justice for the Jewish cause.

*

*

*

THE REBUKE TO CAMERON

Fordson High School students were
the instruments in inflicting retribution
upon a man who was responsible for
spreading hatred when they refused to
permit William J. Cameron, one-time
editor of the Dearborn Independent, to
address their commencement exercises.
Mr. Cameron denied that he had writ-,
ten fascist articles for Gerald L. K.
Smith's "The Cross and the Flag." But
his background justifies the charge that
he entertained fascist ideas.
Apparently bigots can not get away
from punishment and from the rebukes
that eventually come to them for encour-
aging group hatred. Mr. Cameron has
received his due and the good spirit of
American youth is the stronger for it.
•
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YEMEN AND THE U. S.

There is cause for deep regret that our
complaints are not always limited to
Great Britain. There are antagonisms in
Washington which are harmful to the
Jewish cause.
We wonder whether our State Depart-.
ment recognizes the irony that accom-
panies the recognition of Yemen by our
government and the exchange of relations
between the two governments.
For many years, Jewish life has been
insecure in Yemen. The entire Jewish

population in Yemen craves for an op-

Palestine's Rightful Destiny

By SUMNER WELLES

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a courageous act of enlightened states-
manship. No subsequent attempts to distort or to limit the terms of that
Declaration can change the fact, as the testimony of the statesmen responsible
for its proclamation has made clear, that that Declaration gave official assurance
that the British Government would establish in
Palestine a National Home for the Jewish people
and facilitate the successful achievement of that
objective with all that therein was implied.
There has been no sorrier manifestation in
recent British history than the Palestine White
Paper of 1939 . . .
The Government of the United States publicly
approves that portion of the report •which
recommends that 100,000 certificates be author-
ized immediately for the admission into Palestine
of Jewish refugees.
We here in the United States have an in-
escapable moral obligation to contribute to the
solution . •
If the United Nations assumes its just re-
sponsibility, establishes a Trusteeship over Pales-
tine, and permits the immigration into that
country of those who desire to settle there,
Palestine in all probability will in the future
possess a majority of citizens of the Jewish faith.
I believe that that is its rightful destiny. In that event, I have no fear that the
holy places which are sacred to Christians, to Jews, and to Moslems alike will
not always be open to all believers. Nor have I any reason to doubt that those
who for so many long centuries have suffered persecution and discrimination
will wish to give an example to the world by bestowing equal rights without
descrimination upon all citizens of Palestine, of whatever race or creed.

If Need Be-Alone

By NATHAN ALTERMAN

(Translated by Dr. Robert Gordis from the
Jerusalem Hebrew Davar.)

O Engish people crowned with victory!
Remember when you stood alone, with
your back to the wall,
When France and all Europe were cov-
ered with gloom,
You stood against the flame with clenched
fists and cried out,—
As all the world remembers—
"We will fight; we will fight,
On the beaches, in the houses,
We will fight on the streets,
We will fight in the clouds, in the deserts
and on the sea,
We shall continue our battle
And if need be—year- after year,
And if need be--alone!"
O English people crowned with victory
Look!
Like you we stand with our back to the
wall
We have stood up to-day, yet our heart
is firm
For like you, our people with clenched
fists cries out—
And all the world remembers—
"We will fight, we will fight
On the beaches, in the houses,
We will fight on the streets,
We will fight in the clouds, in the deserts
and on the sea
We shall continue our battle,
And if need be—year after year
And if need be—alone!"
O people of England crowned with
victory,
Give us your blessing
In this final hour of battle.

Strictly
Confidential

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

Copyright, 1946. Seven Arts
Feature Syndicate. Inc.

(Guest Columnist Arthur Miller,
Author - of "Focus")

When I sat down to write FOCUS I
wanted to do one basic thing. I wanted
to write a book that would help prevent
that terrible mental isolation' which per-
mits a Gentile to look .on while a Jew is
being murdered. I wanted to do it by
showing the Christian how he would
feel if he were a Jew. Mentally I di-
rected FOCUS . toward Christians. In
short I wanted Christians to see that
anti-Semitism was not a strictly Jewish
problem at all, and that it would destroy
their liberties as well as the Jew's.
5
5
5

A JEWISH PROBLEM AS WELL

But I was in for a rude awakening.
Since the book was published - I have
spoken before various organizations, and
spoken with people who, I' thought,
should knoW something about anti-Semit-
ism. And I haVe found that if the
Christian needs. to know . that anti-Semit-
ism is not only the Jew's affair; if the
Christian needs to know it is a political
weapon, and that it is threatening him as
a Christian, the Jews need to know it a
thousand times as badly. To many Jews,
as far as I can make out, anti-Semitism
is a very simple personal thing about
which very little can be done. To many
Jews, it is simply that here we are, and
there are the anti-Semites. They don't
portunity to settle in Palestine, but those understand why they are being attacked
who manage to get to the Jewish Home- so they don't know how to fight back.
*
*
*
land have to break their way through
underground passages. Jews are not per- ORGANIZATIONAL POINT OF VIEW
Before I wrote FOCUS I thought that
mitted to leave Yemen, and the youth are
somewhere some Jewish organizations
subjected to forced conversions.
existed that knew how to fight this thing.
Will our State Department take into There must be professionals, who know
consideration these medieval conditions? the answer and are fighting it out. But
Will our government strive to improve the other day I participated in a radio
discussion of anti-Semitism with two
the lot of the unfortunate -Jews of men who are active in Jewish organiza-
Yemen? We shall no doubt have another tions. Well, how are they fighting?
battle on our hands—for American in- What's their philosophy? These two
tercession in defense of our Yemenite gentlemen made it very clear. One
gentleman was a very devout person with
fellow-Jews.
a good knowledge of Jewish 'history. His,
*
S
wisdom, as far as . I could gather, was
REUNION OF FAMILIES
that anti-Semitism was a very ancient
Several of our readers have registered thing. He was quick to point out that
complaints against existing indifference Hitler was not the first anti-Semite. In
in some Jewish ranks over the plight of other words, the Jew in our era is being
overseas kinsmen.
persecuted and burned, and whipped for
Here is a typical example:
the same reasons he was persecuted 500,
A Detroit family with ample means is 800, 1,000 years ago. The second gentle-
in position to bring a group of surviving man seemed interested mainly in keep-
relatives to this country. But there is fear ing politics out of the discussion. In other
in their hearts. They are worried lest words, their philosophy is: we should be
their relations should become a burden nice to each other. Nobody should do_
to them. They are hesitant, and the re- nasty things to one another. That's the
sult is perpetuation of misery.
size of it.
5
*
What's the matter with these people?
Don't they know that newcomers to this THE "RESPECTABLE" FIGHT
How do they fight anti-Semitism? As
country fit into the American scene per-
fectly, that they become self-supporting far as I can see, if an incident happens,
out of a keen desire not to be a burden they send somebody to the Mayor, or
to anyone, and are therefore a boon to some official, have a private talk, the
America? Don't they realize that the Mayor says he's sorry and that's that.
Jewish community never lets anyone That clears the stage for the next inci-
dent. But who talks to the people? And
down?
Anyone who is sparing in sympathy and what is to be said to the-people? Is the
compassion is a partner to the crime whole question simply one of improving
Christian manners? A question of eti-
which was perpetrated by Nazism.
Those who can help their families must quette? I think there are deeper rea-
not wait. Time is of the essence. Those sons for a rise in anti-Semitism. I think
who can he rescued should be provided that unless we find a battlefront on which
all necessary help—AT ONCE—by rela- to fight this thing effectively our fate

tives and friends.
•- —

will be sealed by default.

Friday, May 31, 1946

Between
You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1946, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

PALESTINE ECHOES

Influential members of the British
Government are urging liquidation of
the Jewish Agency. The idea emanates
from' Sir Harold MacMichael, former
High Commissioner for Palestine. It is
now known that he was responsible for
Bevin's anti-Jewish statements in Parlia-
ment when he announced formation of
the Anglo-American inquiry committee.
Sir Harold, was one of the most hated
High Commissioners in Palestine. He
was directly responsible for the "Struma"
tragedy. . An attempt on his life was
made shortly before he left Palestine and
he was slightly wounded. He was well
known in Palestine for his anti-Zionist,
anti-Jewish and pro-Arab sentiments.
His suggestion that the Jewish Agency
be liquidated is very much alive in
London. Indications to this effect have
been given by the Colonial Office as
well as the Foreign Office. Zionist lead-
ers were given to understand that the
Jewish Agency is not the only central
Jewish body which can claim representa-
tion of world Jewry. The decision of the
American and British Governments to.-
consult other Jewish groups, besides the
Jewish Agency, on the recommendations
of the Anglo-American inquiry commit-
tee, is the first step in the direction of
weakening the Agency's power and
prestige. Fortunately all Jewish groups
are behind the Jewish Agency as far as
the positive recommendations of the in-
quiry committee are concerned. • But all
indications point • to the fact that the
Zionists will have to come to a better
understanding. with the non-Zionist sup-
porters of the Jewish Agency, if the
Agency is to survive.
*
*

•HERE AND THERE .

There is a serious split in the ranks of
the Hadassah with regard to the Con-
gress. Hadassah has rejected a proposal
of the Zionist Organization of America
for a joint slate of delegates. Its rejec-
tion has provoked a "revolt" within the
Hadassah in many parts of the country.
Hadassah headquarters is receiving num-
erous protests from chapters and indi-
vidual members who insist on having
a joint ZOA-Hadassah slate. The ZOA
offer to the Hadassah provided for parity
in the number of delegates to the con-
gress, and equal representation on the
Congress commissions. In addition, the
ZOA offered the Hadassah adequate rep-
resentation on the executive of the Jew-
ish - Agency, which Hadassah does not
have at present. Mrs. Edward Jacobs,
honorary president of Hadassah, is one
of the members of the Jewish Agency
executive, but she is there as a repre-
sentative of the non-Zionists. Mrs. Ja-
cobs, who is in Palestine at present, on
a special mission, has been asked by
Hadassah, via cable, whether she would
accept nomination as a delegate to the
World Zionist Congress.

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RUSSIAN NOTES:

*

Jewish readers will wonder how much
truth there is in Trotsky's assertion that
Stalin has on many occasions tolerated
anti-Jewish propaganda in the USSR
whenever it served his purpose . . • This
charge is made by Trotsky in his "Stalin"
just published by Harpers • . . This,
naturally, in full contradiction to many
statements made by Stalin in which he
strongly condemned anti-Semitism . . .
But Trotsky claims that "on one occasion,
in the course of an argument, Stalin had
presumably revealed himself as an anti-
Semite, using • coarse Georgian expres-
sions against the Jews" . . . Trotsky adds,
that in fighting the opposition Stalin
even stooped to fish in the muddied
waters of anti-Semitism" by perthitting
the Soviet press to publish "caricatures
and doggerels of an anti-Semitic char-
acter" aimed at showing that the opposi-
tion was led by Jews . . . Trotsky admits
that Stalin issued a statement in which
he declared, "We are fighting Trotsky,
Zinoviev and Kamenev not because they
are Jews, but because they are opposi-
tionists" ... But he considers this state-
ment a. "very pregnant reminder" not to
forget that the leaders of the opposition
were Jews e ..."Such a statement," he
claims, "gave carte blanche to the anti-
Semites" . Contradicting Trotsky's
allegations is a statement made by Stalin
to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on
Jan. 14, 1931, in which he said that anti-
Semitism "is the most dangerous sur-
vival of cannibalism" . . . He also pointed
out in this statement that anti-Semitism
was rigidly prosecuted in the Soviet
Union ... As matters stand in the USSR
today, Trotsky's allegations certainly do

not find any support.

