Purely
Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

REVERSION TO SLAVERY?
An AP report from Washington states
that Mississippi's Rep. John E. Rankin
has joined his colleague, Sen. Theodore
Bilbo, in urging their state's "law-abid-
ing" Negroes to refrain from voting in
the primaries. Mr. Rankin said:

"I simply appeal to the law-abiding Negro
of Mississippi to refrain from attempting to
participate in the white primaries.
"I know that the Communists are trying
to stir up race trouble all over the South,
just as they did in Columbia, Tenn., and they
don't care how much the Negroes or the white
people of the South suffer as a result. What
they want is to stir up friction.
"They know, and every one else knows,
that their activities will result in untold in-
jury to the Negroes of the South by stirring
up friction between them and the white people
among whom they live and upon whose good
will and friendship they must depend for
their future peace, happiness and prosperity."

Read this statement carefully and then
study it in the light of another AP report,
from Jackson, also in the state of Mis-
sissippi, as follows:

"B. D. Dansby, registrar at Jackson College
for Negroes and notary public, said he had
notarized an affidavit from Etoy Fletcher,
Negro World War II veteran, to the effect
that Mr. Fletcher was beaten by unknown
parties June 2 in Brandon, Rankin County,
because he had attempted to register to vote. "

Chamberlain's Soul Marches On

By EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER
(Excerpt from his Column in New York Post)

Mr. Bevin will, not be misunderstood. This is not the first time that this man
has revealed the purity
of his anti-Semitism.
p
It is, however, perhaps the first time that the Foreign Secretary has revealed
the full depth of his inaptitude for his present office. Coming to the Foreign
Ministry without adequate preparation (the job was originally intended for Hugh
Dalton), Mr. Bevin—to survive—has had to lean heavily on the permanent officials
formed by Tory and Imperial tradition.
Provincial, Mr. Bevin lacks the independence of an Anthony Eden. His real
forerunner is Neville Chamberlain—also a provincial.
Nobody but a conceited British provincial would endanger Britain's relations
with the U. S. in deference to good relations with the Nazi Mufti of Jerusalem.
Yet this is what Mr. Bevin is doing—if we Americans let him.
We should not let him. We should realize that our friendship with Britain is
too deep and too precious to be endangered by an ignorant anti-Semite who has
fallen into the clutches of the Foreign Office and the Colonel Office.
The Jews will obtain their home in Palestine just as the Irish obtained their
independence—and possibly by the same method. For though Ernie Bevin might
order his soldiers in the Middle East to shoot down the Zionists, the British
people—in my judgment—will not let him.
Let us keep our tempers and leave it to the British people to see to it that
the misfit in the British Foreir'n Officeis made to eat crow.

Between
You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

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

POLITICAL PRELUDES
The Jewish Agency is beginning to
mobilize forces for the forth-coming Gen-
eral Assembly of the United Nations .. .
It is in the process of engaging a political
staff which will be charged with watch-
ing the moves and gauging the sentiments
of the members of the United Nations with
regard to Palestine when the .assembly
opens in New York in September • . .
One member of the staff will deal with
Latin American delegates, another will
develop contacts with the diplomats of
small European nations, and a third will
deal with the "big shots" such as the
United States, Britain, France, and, as
much as possible, with Russia . . . The
situation, as visualized by American
Zionist leaders, is not considered encour-
aging . . . It turns out that the cabinet
committee appointed by President Tru-
man to implement the recommendathions
of the Anglo-American inquiry commit-
tee on Palestine has a staff which has
little knowledge of the Palestine . issue .. .
The members of the staff are now seek
ing information on Palestine which has
been repeatedly given by all parties in-
volved to previous committees . . . The
lack of real experts on the Palestine issue
on the technical staff of the cabinet com-
mittee gives the British Foreign Office the
upper hand over the committee . . . And
this gives the Zionist leaders a cause for
worry . . . The optimists among the
Zionists are the laborites . . . Some of
them definitely believe that the present
fight for Palestine will yield positive re-
sults and that there has been a change
of heart among many members of the
British cabinet.

Heard in
The Lobbies

By ARNOLD LEVIN

(Copyright, 1946, Independent Jewish
Press Service. Inc.)

WELCOME
We are happy to welcome a new mem-
ber to the fold of English-Jewish publica-
tions, Palestine and Zionism, a bi-monthly
bibliography of books, pamphlets and per-
iodicals published by the Zionist Archives
and Library. This is not really a new pub-
EVERYONE'S BATTLE
lication, for it has been appearing as a
Our own advice is that each one of us
mimeographed bulletin for a number of
consider the problem created by the Bil-
years,
and has been of inestimable value
bos and the Rankins as his own battle.
to students of the Palestine problem;
The moment we permit a situation such
authors, journalists, economists, teachers,
as exists in Mississippi to predominate,
lecturers. Sophie A. Udin, editor of the
we are doomed as free citizens.
bulletin and founder and director of Zion-
Remember the warning of Abraham
ist Archives, has placed her professional
LineOln—that a nation cannot survive if
knowledge and experience at the service
it is to be half slave and half free.
of American Zionism to establish an ar-
This warning should be taken to Mis-
chives on Zionism second to none.
sissippi and should be made to echo again
SUBTLETY
throughout the land.
The subtlety of actors in European
As long as enemies of freedom insist
countries during the Nazi occupation was
upon undermining our democratic insti-
matched by a Negro master of ceremonies
tutions and continue to hold important
in a radio broadcast last week. After a
national posts, the Republic is in danger.
Negro singer sang "The House I Live In"
Therefore it becomes the concern of
for a Negro audience, the master of cere-
ALL citizens—and Jews should be espe-
monies said: "H'm, the house I live in,
cially concerned—that reactionary forces
the howdy and the handshake, the air of
should not gain control of the govern-
feeling free, that's America for me. An
ment of our land.
* * *
interesting . song. Very interesting. Makes
you think,. doesn't it?" The audience
"APPROPRIATE ACTION"
shouted "Yes."
To the credit of Rex Stout, chairman,
TOURISM'
and L. M. Birkhead, executive director, of
More and more American tourists, Jews
Friends of Democracy, let it be recorded
and non-Jews, whose interest has been
that they did not desitate to make an
whetted by recent events in Palestine,
issue of the Bilbo-Rankin attempt to
soon will be visiting the Jewish National
undermine democracy.
Home. We understand that during the
Friends of Democracy wired Attorney
war a really good job was done for sol-
General Tom C. Clark asking that he
diers on leave visiting Palestine. A fairly
take "appropriate action" to protect pub-
good job is still being done for the so-
lic peace in Mississippi.
called elite touring Palestine, and es-
In its telegram, Friends of Democ-
pecially good arrangements were made for
racy states that Senator Bilbo's "words
the ZOA business men's delegation. But
have been acceted quite generally
*
*
*
there are no provisions for the unherald-
throughout Mississippi as an approval of
SUMMER NOTES
ed, including the scores of correspondents
violence and disobedience to law."
The season of annual conventions of from dozens of American metropolitan
Our faith in our country's ideals is
Jewish organilations is almost over . . dailies and the world's 'leading news
strengthened by the statement made by
Attorney General Clark before the Chi- The only group that is yet to hold its con- agencies. They have to shift for them-
vention is the Zionist 'Organization of selves, despite the fact that there are
cago Bar Association', a few days ago:
"I, as Attorney General, will use every America . .. This convention, like all the at least three major tourist information
force at my command to see to it that in others this summer, will not attract any offices in Palestine, Zionist Information
particular interest . . . Strange as it Office, public relations offices of the Jew-
the primaries and forthcoming elections
no American citizen will be deprived of sounds, there are no stimulating issues be- ish National Fund and the Palestine
fore American Jewry this year, except Foundation Fund.
his vote because of his race or color."
the burning issue of the immediate ad-
Nevertheless this issue must not be
The American offices of these agencies
mission of .100,000 Jews to Palestine . . . are very eager that all tourists arriving
taken lightly.
Resolutions
conventions
are
adopting
"Appropriate action" is the obligation
in Palestine, elite or not, be shoWn the
with regard to this issue are pretty much country. But the information officers in
of ALL citizens.
*
*
*
the same . . . At the annual convention Jerusalem have quite another view of
of the Reform rabbis in Chicago last the matter. With the slightest effort they
OUR OWN EXPERIENCES
week, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver tried to could easily organize weekly excursion
There are reactionaries among all peo ,
bring in local American color by raising groups, with the tourists reimbursing for
pies. The advice given to "law-abiding"
the issue of whether American Jewry is
Negroes by Bilbo and Rankin reminds
expenses.
us of the time when there was talk about drifting away from Judaism . . . But it SHOULD CHOOSE GUIDES
seems
that
Jews
in
the
U.
S.
are
not
the availability of prominent Jews for
Guides should be chosen for their thor-
very much interested in evaluating Amer-
important Federal posts. There were then
ican Jewish life . . . They seem to be satis- ough knowledge of the country, its past
men in our midst who advised Jews not
fied with the situation as it stands to- and current history. Some of the guides
to accept public office because it might
day, namely with "dollar Judaism" . . attached to these offices are qualified, but
create anti-Semitism.
As
long as one contributes to his local others are deplorably lacking in know-
We continue to view such advice as
Jewish Welfare Fund and to Jewish ledge. Some of these fortunate to be
un-American.
needs abroad, he considers himself a Jew shown around have told us that they
Every citizen, no matter what his creed
• • • The wider aspects of Judaism are were shOwn one or two aspects over and
or color, owes an obligation to his coun-
too deep and complicated for him because over again. The agricultural settlements
try to respond whenever the call comes
of the failure of Jewish education in are Palestine's major accomplishment,
to him to accept public office.
America . . . Little has been done by perhaps, but it isn't necessary that the
If there are people who create anti-
rabbis and educators in this country to tourist see all of them.
Semitism because Jews are called to pub-
Then it happens, in the cities only, that
bring the average American Jews to an
lic office, they should be fought as ene-
understanding that philanthropy alone the tourist becomes a captive. of parties
mies of the state and of humanity.
does not make up Judaism . . . No wonder and institutions who would keep him con-
Similarly, if Negroes should fail to
that the recent convention of Jewish fined to the city where their particular
make use of their franchise and yield to
social workers discussed the problem of institutions are located. The tourist should
threats, even if they come from Con-
how to adopt Jewish philanthropic ac- be shown something of Palestine pub-
gressmen and Senators, we shall have to
consider them, too, as cowards and as tivities to the situation that will develop lishing which is one of the country's ma-
when the government, by constantly ex- jor contributions to Jewry everywhere.
enemies of the state.
panding its social services, may take over In short, he should not be shown land-
A serious issue is involved: the right
a lot of responsibilities from the Jewish marks; he should see living Palestine.
of every man and woman to cast his or
I believe American Zionism should set
community . . . Without his philanthropic
her ballot in a free democracy. We must
interest in Jewish community life, the as one of its major tasks the reorganiza-
fight for these rights and we must re-
American Jew would feel even less tion of Jewish Palestine's information and
pudiate those who apologize for such
guide bureaus. Americans know what
Jewish than he feels today.
rights.

Having read these statements, do you
feel that they represent a reversion to
slavery?
And if they do, what are YOU pre-
pared to do about it?
a * *

Friday, July 5, 1946

THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Two

Strictly
Confidential

By REV. BEN RICHARDSON

(Guest Columnist)

Mr. Richardson, the guest columnist this

week, is a Harvard graduate, a Negro
leader, and according to Quentin Rey-
nolds "America's most eloquent orator.

Ernest Bevin, British Foreign Minister
and leader of the Labor Party in that
country, made the most anti-Semitic re-
mark to be uttered by a government of-
ficial since the downfall of Hitler, when
he said that "the agitation in the United
States, and particularly in New York, for
100,000 Jews to be put in Palestine, be-
cause they do not want too many of them
in New York."
Progressive forces throughout the world
cannot ignore the anti-Semitism in Bev-
in's speech, because it is a part of the fab-
ric of reaction that he, as an influential
member of the British government, and
leader (though hardly spokesman) of the
Labor government, is weaving.
The extent of anti-Semitism in Britain
is not generally known, and the degree
to which this evil exists in the ruling class
of Britain is even less known. But this
situation must be known in order to un-
derstand the anti-Semitic remarks made
by men like Bevin, and other high offi-
cials in the British government.
During the first decade after World
War I the ruling class of Britain had lit-
tle need for anti-Jewish sentiment. There-
fore only two fascist organizations existed
at that time, the British fascists and the
Imperial fascists, both small parties that
received little support from the influen-
tial elements of the population. But the
economic crisis of 1929-1932 brought
about a new phase in anti-Semitism, un-
employment, wage cuts, and a wide-
spread feeling of insecurity contributing
to its growth.
By 1932, the general population was in
dire need, and the working class strug
gles were clearly defined. It was at this
moment, that Sir (?) Oswald Moseley
founded the ignoble British Union of
Fascists. Moseley, himself an ex-socialist
and apostate from the Labor Party, solic-
ited the support of influential people
among the upper class. The press organ
of the BUF, the "Black Shirt," a scurri-
lous anti-Semitic sheet, blamed the Jews
for trying to get England into a war with
Germany.

4,

*

THE EVIL GROWS
The British Union of Fascists also at-
tracted large numbers of the middle-
class who felt the pressure of big trusts
and combines. Moseley told them they
were being "squeezed by the Jews." By
1934 the BUF openly declared its program
of anti-Semitism. General anti-Semitic
violence became wide-spread, and Mose-
ley and his party gained the secret' back-
ing of some of the most powerful areas of
reaction in Britain.
Another formidable fascist organization
in Britain at that time was the Anglo-
German Fellowship, which openly advo-
cated Hitler Nazism with its cruel pro-
gram of anti-Semitism, and worked for
an Anglo-German alliance against the
USSR. Among its members were such
"distinguished" Britons as: Hon. W. W.
Astor; Lord Lothian (late ambassador
to Washington) ; the late Lord Stamp
(C4ief Industrial Advisor to the govern-
ment); also some of the directors of the
Bank of England, Lloyds of London, the
National Bank of Egypt; members of the
Anglo-Iranian Light, Gas and Coke Dis-
tillers, Sir Leonard Lyle of Imperial Air-
ways, and many other people of similar
standing. Lady Astor, leader of the
"Cliveden Set" and supporter of the
Chamberlain government, was notorious,
for her anti-Semitic expressions. As a re-
sult of the efforts of these pro-fascist
forces in Britain, anti-Semitism reached
unprecedented heights during the war.
(All of the familiar canards used by
bigots throughout the world in their per-
secution of the Jews, were brought into
use in Britain.)
Because the end of the war did not
bring the real defeat of fascism, and be-
cause much effort is being made to return
it to power in the world, anti-Semitism,
its prime weapon, is still being used in
Britain. Bevin reflects this fact and many
Britons share his opinion. Our knowledge
of this situation is imperative, in order
for the anti-fascist forces to effectively
combat this evil.

Americans would like to see. A shakeup
that would put some Americans into these
bureaus would be in order.
In closing, we wish to congratulate
WIZO of Palestine. In Dr. Nadia Stein,
tourists agree they have a first rate pub-
lic relations person who understands how
to interest people in WIZO's work.

