Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
MOWRER'S INDICTMENT
Richard Mowrer, N. Y. Post foreign
correspondent who was among those se-
riously injured in the King David Hotel
blast in Palestine, last week cabled inter-
esting impressions from Jerusalem to his
newspaper. The Post published his story
under the heading: "Palestine Diary:
Evictions, Barbed Wire and Tension."
It is, in essence, such a strong indict-
ment of British policies that the follow-
ing portions deserve wide circulation:
0.
The last week in Jerusalem.
MONDAY—Went to see Prof. Felix Mandl
about my leg. Had to show my press pass
at the entrance of the "security zone" to
get to the professor's house. Found him in
the midst of—eviction.
He had received an army order the day
before to be out of his house in 24 hours.
Heard about the Englishwoman who, not
wanting to leave Palestine, begged her Jew-
ish doctor to sign a certificate stating her
child was too ill to travel. The doctor was
unsympathetic. He had just been evicted.
Went to the press room of the Public In-
Noticed a note on the
formation Office.
bulletin board stating British and Ameri-
can correspondents are advised" to make
Arrangements to live inside the army's
barbed wire perimeters. Apparently French
and other non-Anglo-Saxon correspondents
are exempt. Think I'll stay outside the wire.
TUESDAY—Tea at a friend's house where
I met two members of the British Under-
ground. English people who have gone into
hiding because they don't wish to leave
Palestine under the evacuation decree.
THURSDAY—Today the wire curtain is
down around the city's four "security zones"
and none can enter without a special pass.
I was frisked twice this morning on the
wa) to the PIO press room, first when en-
tering "B" zone," then at the entrance to
the PIO building. They didn't find anything.
( h i the way passed Prof. Mandl's house and
saw the new occupants had their shingle
out "Assistant Chaplain General. Senior
Chaplain RC."
Had a look at the back of David Bros.
building where passes for Zone B are is-
sued. Learned that veil-wearing Moslem
women are exempted for religious reasons
from having their photograph on the zone
passes.
FRIDAY—Went to the American consulate
to see if there was any mail. Tried to. get
home the usual way by going up Mamilla
Road but had to turn back and make a big
detour because of newly erected wire cur-
tain—a nuisance because I had bought big
oranges which turned out to be heavy.
Tonight went for drinks to the house of
Gershon Agronsky, editor of the Palestine
Post, where I met an Englishman whose
wife had been evacuated to Egypt as "un-
essential." This man, whose house is inside
a "security zone," invited me to visit him
- in the ghetto."
SATURDAY—Lunched at an Arab restau-
rant, noticed Jews eating there and recalled
seeing Arabs in a Jewish restaurant last
week—One World? The Guards know me
now—no more friskings.
Friday, February 28, - t947
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Two
For All Americans
•
Valor of Fighters for Freedom
By REV. WILLIAM C. KERNAN
- Director, Institute for American Democracy, Inc.
Maj.-Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, National Selective Service Director, has paid high
tribute to 600,000 American Jewish Veterans of World War II.
"Our pride," he said, "is not primarily in the fact that they were a typical cross-
section of the men and women of America in a national emergency. Our pride is in
the fact that in the days of war they played their part not as Jewish men and women
but as Americans-They fought to save America for no particular kind of Americans
but for all Americans.'
Eleven thousand...Jewish dead in the war, 40,000 others injured, is all the proof
needed to illustrate the truth of these words.
Yet, there is more in the record—showing that 8,200 Jewish men in the service
received citations for valor and merit—that the' Distinguished Service Cross, second
highest Army award for heroism, was earned by over 40 men of the Jewish faith—
that thousands of Jewish families gave three or more sons, to the war—that 266
rabbis, one-fourth of the total American rabbinate, served` as chaplains—that at
least one-third of the Jewish physicians of the United States served in the armed
forces. All of this, too, is part of a magnificent record made by Americans of the
Jewish faith, which America holds up proudly for all the world to see.
What Gen. Hershey said about American Jewish veterans he might just as
truly have said about American Protestant and American Catholic veterans, and
others—"they fought to save America for no particular kind of Americans but for
all Americans."
It's by keeping America a land for all Americans—of every race, every religion
—that each American in particular finds his opportunity to live and grow. For, of no
other country may it be said more fittingly than of America that to survive, to
advance, to be free we must live for each other— all for one and one for all.
Between
You and Me
Heard in
The Lobbies
By BORIS SMOLAR
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright, 1947, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
(Copyright, 1947, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)
WASHINGTON -WERE
Perhaps you don't know it, but, the
basis of Senator McKellar's case against
public servant Lilienthal was based on
an anonymous letter marked by the anti-
Semitic venom and reckless libel-
dexterity characteristic of the lunatic
fringe. Other members of the committee,
in receipt of duplicates of the same let-
ter, laughed it out of session. McKellar,
sedulously seeking to link Lilienthal with
communism, is said to have recommend-
ed for TVA employment a woman who
later was identified as a member of the
Communist party. Dragging Lilienthal
through the mire of witchhunting, helped
to enhance his reputation. Thus, the at-
tempt of the poison pen correspondents
of McKellar to libel all Jews by malign-
ing Lilienthal, has had the reverse effect
of undermining the integrity of Jews in
public service.
1Strictly
Confidential
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
(Copyright, 1947, Seven Arts)
WHITEWASH?
A few weeks ago Drew Pearson ended
his column,, • "Washingtoii Merry-Go-
Round," with a statement by Dr. leliturice
Goldman, "unofficial Jewish leader ire
Buenos Aires," to the effect that '- `_`there
is no evidence of official hostility" against
the 600,000 Jews in Peron's Argentina ...
Reference is made, however, to "scat-
tered instances - of anti-Semitic demon-
strations by small private groups" . . •
We don't know what Mr. Pearson and Dr.
Goldman want Jews to conclude about
Peron's government . . . We do know that
a country that plays host to Nazi survi-
vors is not likely to exert any effort to
:
stop the "scattered instances" from recurr.
Mg . . . And we have reason to believe
that "the scattered instances" are being
fomented and led by the Peron forces in
the "unofficial" capacities.
•
•
•
BROADWAY GOSSIP
. Sir Stork expected at the Arthur Mil-
lers' . • . He's the author of "All My Sons,"
being hailed as the best serious drama to
hit the GreSt White Way in many a sea-
son.
Paul Muni is reading scripts for his
impending return to the legitimate stage.
Dinah Shore flying east with husband
George Montgomery . . . She'll sing at the
White House Correspondents Dinner for
President Truman on March 1.
PALESTINE TALKS
The general sentiment in Washington
with regard to the decision of the British
John Garfield and Lilli Palmer. who
government to submit the Palestine issue
have been screening "Body and Soul" in
to the United Nations can be summarized
Hollywood, will make a picture in Eng-
in one sentence . . Washington wants
land next fall . . . Johnny is taking his
family on a trip to Europe, Lilli will be
the admission of 100,000 displaced Jews
in England with hubby Rex Harrison.
into Palestine regardless of the new Brit-
The Leo Hurwitzes (he's filming How-
ish move . . . It is argued since the for-
ard Fast's Freedom Road) rate congratu-
mulation of a new policy by the UN will
lations on their new son . . . Incidentally,
doubtless prove long and difficult, the
Fast's brother, Julius, has sold three mys-
humanitarian problem should be tackled I
tery novels to Farrar and Rinehart.
at once . . And the belief is expressed
• • •
that by Anglo-American cooperation
MUSICAL NOTES
100,000 Jews could be brought from Eur-
ope to Palestine at the rate of 10,000 a
The beauty and depth of cantorial sing-
month . . . Some circles feel should the
ing is a part of our Jewish culture tha,t
British agree, it should be made clear
many of us have missed on the American
that after the admission of the 100,000,
scene . . . Beginning in March we'll have
any further immigration would depend
a chance to fill the gap ... Michale Kuse-
•
on the decision of the UN, Zionist leaders
•
•
vitsky, noted Warsaw cantor, is now in •
These notes reveal many things. They breathed more freely alter Bevin:s an-
the States and planning a series of opera-
prove that Arabs and Jews can and do nouncement that Britain will not bring the LOBBYISTS
The awards, honors and publicity given tic and cantorial concerts . .. He has an
get along; that the evictions were totally
issue to the UN Security Council, but to
unnecessary and even the British civil- the General Assembry . . . This gives the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince were interesting history . . . When the Nazis
managed by the -same international lobby occupied Warsaw, Kusevitsky escaped in-
ians resented them; that British rule
them time to prepare their campaign since
now engaged in restoring, by means to Russia with his family—still wearing
in Palestine is tyrannical.
the General Assembly will not meet un-
the Hitler-imposed arm bands on their
Mr. Mowrer's cables reveal a saintly til September . . .
is not yet certain straight and otherwise, links with German sleeves . . . He was enthusiastically wel-
monopolies. A Congressional investiga-
attitude_Haxing suffered so much as a
under what precise article of the UN
comed to the Soviet Union, and sang be-
tion is. in order.
result of terroristic actions—he still is
charter Britain will place the case before
•
fore many leaders, including Stalin and
•
under doctor's care after eight months the General Assembly , . . She will ap-
Voroshilov . . . He was twice awarded
ITEM
wr
of illness—he does not hold a grudge be- parently try to present the case in a man-
the Stalin medal iri acknowledgement of
From Leonard Lyons' Broadway col- his singing for the Red Army at the front
- cause of his plight against all Jews, an ner which will enable her to maintain a
attitude so common among unreasonable
trusteeship over Palestine, while at the umn: -
. . . A great fan of another cantor. the
"Curt Riess, the correspondent and au- late Joseph Rosenblatt. is Latin guitarist
people. Naturally, we are grateful for same time she eases out of the obliga-
thor
of
books
on
Nazi
espionage,
was
at
such fairness.
tions of the mandate.
Tito Guizar . . . Tito doesn't understand
the Overseas Press Club where he told a word he hears, but sits for hours lis-
•
•
•
How can the British possibly afford to
of
interviewing
Field
Marshal
Kessel-
have their bad record perpetuated in his-
tening to his complete collection of the
"FRIENDLY" ADVICE
ring on'V-E Day. The Field Marshal was
tory? Perhaps a new administration will
The new government in Romania, which busy signing a number of documents. famous cantor's recordings.
• • •
be able to atone for the sins of the false
is supposed to be democratic, apparently Riess glanced at them and noticed that
British socialists.
has not completely broken with the past they began: 'In the name of the Fuehrer' AN ANSWER?
• • •
The increase in anti-Semitic "incidents"
. . . Premier Groza of Romania is using . . . 'This war is over, and there is no
A SELF-DEFENSE STORY
the same tactics with regard to the Jews Fuehrer,' Riess told him . . . 'These are in Britain has occasioned considerable
The argument that is current in Jewish as did one of his predecessors, the anti- decorations,' Kesselring explained. 'They comment over there . Synagogues have
ranks today relative to the wisdom of Semitic Dr. Vaida-Voyevoda . . . The should have been awarded a long time been desecrated, shop windows smashed
extremist policies in Palestine may be latter always claimed that there would ago. I've been too busy to sign them' .
and individual Jews threatened with beat-
illustrated by an old rabbinic story.
be no pogroms in Romania if American
d there, under Allied detention, Kes- ings and ,floggings . . . The explanation
It is told that a student once asked his "rich Jews" would facilitate international selring continued writing his name, un- offered is that all this is in retaliation for
rabbi: "Do you think it wrong for me to
loans for his country . . Nov Premier der the empty words 'In the name of the the terrorist activities in Palestine . . .
learn the art of self-defense?"
More than a month ago this column ex-
Groza wants $100,000,000 from "rich Fuehrer ...."
The rabbi replied: "Of course, it is
posed the revival of Oswald Moseley's
American Jews" to help alleviate the
proper. I learned it in my youth and it
fascist groups in England and asked why
famine in Moldavia . . . Otherwise, he
has been very valuable to me. I follow
they were being permitted to operate
warns of a possible "dangerous resurrec-
the system of the wise King Solomon tion of anti-Semitic feelings" in Romania.
freely ... Can it be that the government
who said: 'A soft answer turneth away
•
wants to silence Jewish protests against
•
111
Palestine, Zionism and Ibn Saud figure the barbarities of the Palestine occupation
wrath.' ("Maaneh rakh yashiv khama").
THE DOMESTIC SCENE
prominently in the very interesting biog- troops? . . . Is intimidation the answer?
This is the best means of self.-defense."
An overall picture of what is being raphy, "Franklin D. Roosevelt," by Alden
•
This does not always work. It cer-
+11
•
done
to
combat
anti-Semitism
in
America,
Hatch, published by Henry Holt & Co.,
tainly is not a complete workable pro-
ORCHIDS
and
how
it
is
being
done,
is
given
in
257 Fourth Ave., New York 10.
gram in dealing with the British. But in
To Robert R. Nathan, economist and
"Action for Unity" by Prof. Goodwin Wat-
This informal biography relates that:
some instances it would have been help-
son,
just
published
by
Harpers
.
.
.
The
"Roosevelt particularly wanted to se- author of the Nathan Report which has
ful even in dealing with Great Britain.
In any event, if this system should lead book summarizes a two-year study un- cure Ibn Saud's approval of a settlement been such a terrific help to the unions
dertaken by Dr. Watson at the request of of the Palestine question which would in their fight for a decent living . . . Mr.
us to stronger self-discipline, to the
ability of living to see the day when "he the American Jewish Congress to deter- allow more Jewish immigration. Failing Nathan resigned from the World Wide De-
who laughs last laughs best"—and we mine the most effective methods of com- that, he wanted the King at least to re- velopment Co., which had agreed to re-
shall surely have the last laugh on Bevin batting prejudice and discrimination . . . main neutral. But Ibn Saud met these port on Argentine industry for President
It is the first scientific evaluation of its suggestions with a courteous but adam- Peron ... Orchids also to all the big-name
—then we should frequently resort to
kind . . . It establishes, among other ant refusal. On other matters, such as and unnamed men and women who made
the Solomonic rule.
things, that the truly serious danger to commercial arrangements and maintain- the recently ended Brotherhood Week a
•
•
•
democracy in America lies in suscepti- ing a friendly attitude indthe war, he was start towards a Brotherhood Year and a
KRUEGER'S FOREIGN ANTIPATHIES
Brotherhood Future.
It was not so long ago that Karl Krue- bility to demagogues who seek to capital- sweetly reasonable, but on the subject
•
•
•
ize on any crisis in order to extend their of Zionism he regarded himself as the
ger, director of the Detroit Symphony
power
.
.
.
The
author
warns
against
BETWEEN
COVERS
world's
foremost
Moslem
and
the
guar-
Orchestra, was himself a "foreigner" in
Don't miss "The Jews in Yugoslavia,"
laughing off the demagogues, as well as dian of Moslem rights."
Germanic countries. The Kansas Cityan,
the religious agitators who preach fun-
Mr. Hatch emphasizes that Mr. Roose- informative article by Moshe, Braver in
riot so far back, took Josef Gingold from
damentalism mixed with anti-Semitism. velt knew the Bible and was able, while Synagogue Light.
a New York position. Now he permits his
Barley C. Crum is reading the galley
in , the plane going over Palestine, to
anger to show an ugly aspect of his na-
time to have adjusted themselves to the point out to his group the important proofs of his new book on Palestine, ten-
ture. He has seen fit to say, in an attack
tatively titled "Let the Living Go" . . .
ethical climate of our country." It was a places in the Holy Land.
on the leader of the Cleveland orchestra,
The Hatch "informal biography" of Mr. Crum served with the Anglo-Ameri-
rather crude way of saying that he does
George Szell, that "some European con-
can Commission last fall.
ductors, to whom the United - States has not like "foreigners," forgetting the Bib- the late President makes excellent read-
Howard Fast fans will find a swell short
lical injunction to be fair to strangers be- ing and contains important historical
given opportunity and prosperity un-
cause he was himself a stranger in other data, especially dating back to the Wil- story, "Epitaph for Sidney," in the Jan-
imagined in the countries' of their origin,
uary Jewish Life.
son administration and World War
have not been with us a long enough lands.
n
an