U. S. Vetoes
an Pro-Nazi Laws
which affect Jewish victims of prompted a protest f r o m the
still have not been satisfactor-
ily resolved by the Austrian Nazism, the Soviet authorities United States. Her letter, dated
have taken quite a different July 23, predicted the State De- a
Government, and that it is
partment's action. She wrote:
stand on the matter.
equally concerned about • the
"A few days prior to the an-
The Soviet Union, like the
ction to amend the Third
United States, is represented on nouncement that the U. S. High ;,;
Restitution Law to the detri-
ment of victims of National the Allied Council in Vienna and Commissioner Walter I. Donnel-
••
Socialism. Similar representa- its representative there—like the ly has been assigned as succes-
WA. I;IINGTON, (JTA)---The State Department issued
made to the Aus- American representative — has sor to High Commissioner John
tr
the right to veto any legislation J. McCloy in Germany, I had the
Government
in Vienna.
were
a statement revealing that the U. S. government has in- n trian
passed by the Austrian Parlia- !privilege of meeting Mr. Don-.
"The Department of State
med
the
Austrian
government
of
its
dissatisfaction
with
Ior
ment. However, a State Depart- nel
is of the opinion that two fur-
the three pro - Nazi laws passed last week in the Austrian ther laws, passed by the Aus- ment spokesman revealed at a
M1Y. r. Donnelly is called by the
Parliament under which more than 20,000 former Nazis trian Parliament on July 18 press conference that Moscow freedom-loving people in Aus-
will have their property and civil rights restored. Jewish granting compensation to civil feels that it is "deplorable" for tria. 'the champion of justice'
organizations in Austria and in the United States have pro-
the United States to meddle in since he took their part in the
servants, resident in Austria,
recent controversy concerning
for loss of salary and other . internal Austrian affairs.
tested against these laws.
the a m n es t y of repatriated
Diplomats Defend Laws
losses suffered by them dur-
•
The statement discloses that
ing the Anschluss, and grant-
The Austrians here tried to Nazis.
the U. S. Government also ex- whose civil service promotions
"While nothing or very little
ing compensation generally to explain away the pro-Nazi laws
has been done to compensate
pressed its concern about the had been frozen.
victims of Nazi oppression
by
stating
that
they
concerned
The Lower House also ap-
only "minor" Nazis. They said the victims of Nazism and rase-
action taken by the Austrian
proved a law amending the who reside in Austria, do not
.
adequately
meet
the
request,
that the laws may be "emotion- ; ism, the new law for the repat-
Parliament amending the Third T h i r d Restitution Law. T re
frequently expressed by the : ally" distasteful but are a prac- riation of 34.000 Nazis would de-
Restitution Law to the detri- ' amendment provides that per-
Government of the U. S. to tical necessity. "You cannot split ! finitely single out Nazis who
nient of Jewish and other vic- ' sons who had been required the Government of Austria . a country permanently into two were prisoners of war for pref-
tams of Nazism. The U. S. Corn- under the Third Restitution Law
categories of people," they ar- . erential treatment. Among them
missioner in Vienna, the state- , to restitute land to victims of not to discriminate against
!are militant Nazis, former mem-
gued.
ment emphasized, has been in- Nazi persecution now have the such victims on the basis of
I hers of the SS.
Under
the
new
laws,
the
Aus-
formed of the views of the State right to purchase s u c h land their present residence or citi-
"In the Allied Council meet-
or-
zenship.
'
trian
officials
explained,
Nazis
Department. As American rep- without the consent of the
ing, where the law was sub-
"The
A
c
t
i
n
g
United
States
may
petition
the
courts
for
the
resentative on the Allied Colin- iginal owner. The amendment
mitted for approval, Ambassa-
cll. the body which must ap- . also provides for the possible re- High Commissioner in Vienna . restoration of property and civil
dor Donnelly vigorously pro-
rights,
but
the
only
property
prove the Austrian laws. he can 'opening of judgments returning who is the United States repre-
tested its enactment. It tOoa
veto the legislation and thus , their enterprises to victims of sentative on the Allied Council. that would be restored. they in-
great courage, as Mr. Donnelly
prevent the enactment of the Nazi oppression, if such enter- ' which is the body to which the sisted, would be certified pri-
risked the danger of making
measures. prises were found to have been above legislation will be submit- . vate holdings and not properties himself 'unpopular' in the in-
The text of the State Depart- ' indebted at the time of the ted for consideration, has been confiscated from Jews.
terest of higher justice.
•
•
•
informed of the views of the
I original deprivation.
"It is the policy of the United
merit's statement reads:
"The Department of State Department.
States to heal rather than pro-
Mrs. Cha jes Reports on
"On July 18 the Lower House ;
Russia
"Deplores"
Stand
long
the wounds of war' he stat-
of the Austrian Parliament ap - has informed the Austrian
Situation in Austria
ed. 'To do that fairly, requires
proved three laws granting I. ; Ambassador in Washington Information reaching Wash-
Marguerite Kozenn Chafes. In that full consideration be given
Amnesty to certain implicated! that it is greatly disturbed to ington brought out the fact that
a special message to The Jewish to all those who suffered at the
Nazis; 2. Cancellation of prop- , have received reports on the while the State Department has
News from Vienna, received on hands of its instigators. I am
erty forfeitures of certain impli-1 above legislation when resti- made it clear to the Austrian
the ex- disappointed to find legislation
sated Nazis: and 3. Promotions tution and general claims government. that the U. S. is Tuesday, comments on
isting situation which has for the relief of Ex-Nazis pre-
of
victims
of
Nazism
.
against
Austria's
pro-Nazi
laws
problems
for c e r t a i n implicated Nazis
ceding that for their victims. I
--------------
cannot help but wonder why the
proponents of this law continue
to postpone enactments that
would grant proper restitution to
those whom the Nazis persecut-
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
ed here. In . simple justice we
•
•
•
must continue to urge Austria
One of the greatest .humorists of all time wrote in Yiddish. does one knock this-teakettle? We leave these profound ques-
to comply with this obligation
Many of his ,works have remained hidden from Jews unacquainted
tions to the savants of philology and anthropology. They might
FIRST.'
with Yiddish and, naturally, from non-Jewish readers.
find their source in such phrases as "sounding brass and tink-
"A few days ago the law was
ling cymbal," or "a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury,"
The work of an able translator now makes available. in an
again passed on in the Austrian
or in the primitive beating of tom-toms . . . Let the scholars Parliament and will become ef- •
English text, for the first time, a full length novel 1py Sholom
worry their heads. We will not presume to dabble in another's
Rabinowitsch, who has become
fective within 30 days, if the
craft, take a livelihood away from its rightful practitioners.
world famous .as Sholom Alei-
Allied Council will not veto it
We'll stick to the teakettle.
chem.
"All the protests of the espec-
When Sholom Aleichem came
Genuine humor must have its pathos. and "Wandering Star" ially sent emissaries of the
to this country in 1911, he was
and the
introduced to Mark Twain as possesses it in full measure. But it always is told with a twinkling World Jewish Congress
Committee
"the Yiddish Mark Twain, - and eye, with a search for joy, with Messianic hope, without fear. American Jewish
Thus. Sholom Aleichem was the master• of situations not were by-passed, and the news-
the great American humorist
protested: "Oh, no," he said. "I only in the shtetel. in the old world's tiny villages and hamlets, papers brought inciting articles
the
am the American Sholom Alei- of pre-Hitler days. but also in America. The chapter in "Wander-, about 'the infinite hatred of hope
ing Star" entitled "America!" describes the reactions of arriving Jews,' but still
is
chem."
representative
S. there
that again
the U.
Thus, Sholom Aleichem be- Italians, Poles, Germans, Russians. Japanese—and of the Jew! 1 will
vote against it.
came know on a par with Mark
"America. Woe is me," wails an olive-skinned Jewess in a
"In my conversation with Am-
Twain—and the latter, know-
black wig, holding one child by the hand and another in her bassador Donnelly I had the im-
ing the genius of the Yid-
arms. Her face drained of all color, she stares into the distance, pression that he will do his ut-
dishist, endorsed the appela-
where the outlines of chimneys, then roofs, then many-win- most to prevent such an unjust
tion.
dowed buildings begin to appear. She can barely see the city. law which clearly favors form-
Sholom Aleichem's work was
and already her heart beats with fear and is filled with worries er major offenders and here is
evaluated in a fascinating
and premonitions. Who knows if they will admit her with her
hoping that his deputy, who will
book, "The World of Sholom
two infants? Who knows if she won't get the same reception
take over the duties until the
Aleichem," by Maurice Samuel.
as in Germany? Will her husband be there to meet her? Will new Ambasador will arrive, will
Another admirer, the late Ju-
she need a passport as at home? Who knows if her pillows
follow up with the strongest pro-
lius Butwin, commenced the
and bedding haven't been stolen?
test.
14a translation of his short stories
"It is to be regretted that
Of all the passengers who arrived that day on the Atlantic,
Sholom Aleichem
which were completed after his
none pushed and shoved so frantically at the gangplanks, none High Commissioner Donnelly is
death by his widow, Frances Butwin. That book, "The Old Coun-
were in such a state of feverish excitement, so harassed and leaving Austria just at the time, i
try," gained favor. Mrs. Butwin continued her translation of Sho-
worried, as our Jews. And this is easy to understand. For they when his presence would be
with a: second volume, "Tevye's Daughters." Now
lom
much needed in the decisions of
came from a land which had treated them without mercy. To
comes her third volume. the full length Sholom Aleichem novel,
them Amedica was a Messiah, land of promise and deliverance. such a vital issue. However to
"Wandering Star," which has just been released by Crown Pub-
know that such a 'champion for
Meanwhile they huddled together like sheep, their hearts pound-
lishers (419 4th Ave., NY16).
ing, their pulses racing. "Merciful God" . . they prayed word- just causes' has been assigned
"Wandering Star" deals with the theater. It is the story of
to a more important and greater
lessly. What awaited them here in this blessed land?
two- youngsters who fled their homes in Holeneshti, after being
Few among them didn't have, in New York, a son or a task, will make all the freedom
lured by impressarios who came to their little town to open up
daughter, a husband or a wife. a relative or a friend, or at loving people happier."
the vistas of the stage to a bewildered community. Both rose to
least a townsman waitiny for them on shore, ready "to take
great heights. Scheming directors separated them for selfish mo-
them off - the ship, to help them through the debarkation or-
Stevenson Backers
tives: the boy Leibel:Rapalovich, who became Leo Rapalesco, by
deal at the "Isle of Tears," Ellis Island.
Hotzrnach, who became Holtzman the producer; and the girl,
The readers of "Wandering Star - will find thrill after thrill
Reizel, who gained fame as the primadonna Rose Spivak. Hotz- in puns, in sharp sentences, in idomatic expressions which have
mach induced Leibel to steal the money from his rich father's been well transformed into English. They will enjoy the descrip-
cash box. Rosa was prized by her companions because of her voice. affiliated with literature, theater, and politics. gathers to eat,
Rosa later returned to compensate her parents with the bounty drink—and kibitz! What is kibitz? It sprang, Sholom Aleichem
of her income. Leibel never returned to Holeneshti. The two were tells us, "from American soil, in Yiddish-American literary and
reunited after they had traveled through all European countries, theatrical circles. It has had a variety of meanings. To kibitz was
where they captured the hearts of their audiences, and landed to indulge in repartee of a special sort, to needle someone, tickle
in New York. They married and the story ends happily.
him in the ribs, pull his leg, gnaw at his vitals, sprinkle salt on
The tale captures the hearts of the readers because of its his wounds, give him the kiss of death, and all with a sweet
illuminating descriptions of the Yiddish theater in Holeneshti, smile, with a flash of rapier-like wit, with whimsy and humor."
later in Romania, in England and then in the United States. It
There is satire in "Wandering Star" on American Jewish prac-
is a realistic story and it presents the typical charming views of tices. This one especially reveals the great wit's ability to observe
Jewish life in the old world by the great humorist. The translator and to sprinkle a salty kibitz:
has succeeded in capturing the humorous twists of the Yiddish
"In America everyone, unless born a mute, makes speeches.
and to transform them into hilarious English. She has achieved They are made on every occasion -- engagements, weddings, di-
the unpredictable in this novel.
vorces, circumcisions, birthdays, Bar-Mitzvahs, anniversaries,
At the Democratic convention::
Remember how people struggled to translate "hacken a housewarmings, funerals, the welcome of a guest and the depar- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., and
tchainik?" Mrs. Butwin catches the spirit of Sholom Aleichem in ture of a pest. Whatever the occasion, merry or sad, It calls for Senator Herbert H. Lehman, tam
this translated paragraph:
speechmaking. And when it comes to a public occasion, then God were important factors in the
Soviet Russia Deplores a
Government Standl
I
I
Purely Commentary
"He knocks a teakettle" is an expression which didn't
spring from our own soil. We borrowed it from America. "To
knock a teakettle" doesn't mean, God forbid, to slander anyone.
He who "knocks a teakettle" merely babbles or rants; his ears
do not hear what his tongue is saying. Where does this expres-
sitm comsts***; 'wife *a' Tattle sarntl'Acita d 4stiffibidrt IA7fift how
Genius of Sholom Aleichem
Reflected in 'Wandering Star'
Himself has bidden man to speak."
nomination of Governor Mild
These are among the gems that are multiplied a thouSarid- Stevenson as t h e Democratic
fold in "Wandering Star. "It is a heart-warming book, and it candidate for the Presidency.
brings back faith in a lingering hope that the great.Yiddish liter
ature and one of the greatest wits of all time, among all peoples. 2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Vita644ifiglaat
,
Sholom Aleichem—will not be fogotten.