Austrian Counter-Proposals on
Jewish Claims Delay Settlement
VIENNA, (JTA)—No early set-
tlement of the claims presented
by world Jewish organizations
to the Austrian government was
foreseen here following the pre-
sentation of counter - proposals
by members of the. Austrian
Cabinet to M o s es Beckelman,
European director of the Joint
Distribution Committee w h o
heads the group of Jewish ex-
perts engaged . in reparations
talks with the Austrians.
The Austrian government's
counter-propoSals offer the Jew-
ish organizations a reduced set-
tlement f o r • heirless Jewish
property. The - difference be-
tween the sum requested by the
Jewish groups and the one of-
fered by the Austrian Cabinet
is so great that the possibility of
a settlement seemed quite re-
mote. The members of the
Cabinet who presented the
counter-proposals to Mr. Beck-
elman are Vice-Chancellor Adolf
Schaerf and Finance Minister.
Reinhardt Kamitz.
On the other hand, the inten-
tions of the Austrian govern-
ment on legislative measures to
provide compensation and in-
demniftation for individual
Jewish victims of Nazism in
Austria—including victims now
residing abroad—seem to be
satisfactory. However, a detail-
ed analysis still has to be made
of the implementation of these
measures.
Following his conference with
the two Cabinet members, Mr.
Beckelman returned to Paris to
report the Austrian proposals to
leaders of the world Jewish or-
ganizations which initiated the
Vienna talks. Prior -to his de-
parture, it was arranged that
Austrian experts would meet
with Jewish experts next week
to • discuss various unsolved
problems.
Bavarian Court Reverses
Decision for Nazis Widow
MUNICH, (JTA) — The Bav-
arian C e n t r al Denazification
Court has ruled that the govern-
ment is entitled to confiscate
only 20 percent of the property
of Hans Kerrl, Nazi Minister
for Churches who in his of-
ficial capacity shared responsi-
bility for the persecution of
Jews.
A local denazification court
earlier ruled that Kerrl, who
died in 1941, has been a Nazi
"activist" and the government
was entitled to seize 80 percent
of his property. The widow ap-
pealed and the latest court" de-
cision resulted.
Purely- Commentary
By PHILIP 'SLOMOVITZ
The Vatican and Zionism
One more episode in Christopher Sykes' "Two Studies in Vir-
tue" (Knopf), already reviewed by this Commentator at some
length, deserves attention. It is the reference to Dr. Theodor
"Herzl's last meeting
Herzl's audience with the Pope (Pius X)
with a European sovereign"—in 1903. "The meeting was not
smooth." Herzl, whom Sykes describes as having been "bitterly
anti-Catholic," was impressed by the "majestic simplicity" of the
Pope's utterance. He tried to divert the conversation from dis-
cussion of theology to recognition of the terrible position of Jewry,
and it develOps that the Pope "had little idea of how frightful a
thing modern anti-Semitism had become. He refused to enter
into a detailed discussion of the modern Jewish disaster and Herzl,
surprisingly, "did not,press the advantage offered by the Pope's
apparent ignorance."
—
"Pius," Mr. Sykes writes, concluded by reiterating his views.
The Church prayer for Jewry, he said, and 'this very day
(Jan. 25) celebrates the feast of an unbeliever who on the
Damascus Road was converted to the true faith in a marvelous
manner. I can only tell you that if you succeed in settling your
people in Palestine, we, on our side, shall prepare churches and
priests to baptize you.' "
While the chief Catholic aspiration—conversion of Jews—is
evident in this quotation, Mr. Sykes makes this interesting com-
ment:
"Herzl's interview with the Pope has one unique character-
istic. The idea of a mass conversion of the Jews, once prominent
in Gentile Zionism, has been lost. In the many encounters of
Zionists with Gentiles of great position before 1917, this was the
only one, so far as is known, in which the orthodox Christian
objection to a return without such a hope was stated plainly to
a Jewish leader. This was the last appearance of Orthodox
Gentile Zionism in the story. The effect was transient."
There is a sequel to the Herzl-Pius meeting. Mr. Sykes ex-
presses the view that the Pope or his advisers regretted "the
brusque manner with which the Zionist leader had been received."
Cardinal Merry del Val, a few weeks after the audience, softened
the impression by saying to a friend of Herzl: "If the Jews
believe that they might greatly ease their lot by being admitted
to the land of their ancestors, then we would regard that as a
humanitarian question." He added: "We shall never forget that
without Judaism we would have been nothing." Mr. Sykes be-
lieves that there are other circumstances "reconciling the Papacy
to Zionism," and he points out that two years after the Herzl
audience with the Pope "the Dreyfus conspiracy was exposed, and
thus prompted a reaction against the anti-Semitic wing of the
New Ultramontanes."
(We shall need better proof of Vatican reconciliation with
Zionism. The Jerusalem issue in our own time indicates that even
the Vatican does not shun such strange bed-fellows as Soviet
Russia when there can be a combined move against Israel).
/ Years later, when Sir Mark Sykes, the distinguished British
statesman and Catholic who was among the outstanding Christian
friends of Zionism, recorded a conversation with Monsignor
Pacelli (later Pope Pius XII), he wrote: "Of course one could not
expect the Vatican to be enthusiastic about this movement, (Zion-
ism), but he was most interested and expressed a wish to see
(Nahum) Sokolow when he should come to Rome."
How does it happen that so devout a Catholic as Sir Mark
Sykes was so strong a supporter of Zionism? Let us quote his son:
"In his biographical work, Sir Shane Leslie asserted that it
was Catholicism that made him (Sir Mark) a Zionist. The judg-
ment was acute, but it needs qualifying. It was his unconven-
tional Catholicism of which Sykes made use here; modernist
national Catholicism with a strong admixture of the Gothic
Revival. Though he regarded Jewish nationalism as being sep-
arate from theological Judaism; though he did not make the
mistake of imagining that the aim of Zionism was the establish-
ment of a Jewish Papacy in the Promised Land, he did see the
movement in terms more appropriate to his own religion. He
saw it as sacramental, as primarily concerned with an outward
sign of inward grace, in this case of the virtues which suppos-
edly attach to the tilling of the soil."
Christians of other denominations were quite ready to see :n
Zionism realization of Prophecy. Did Catholicism negate such a
vision of the coming of the day of justice for the homeless? Sir
Mark Sykes' son is 'a bit too vague in his explanation, but we have
been stimulated by his book, as the several columns devoted to it
indicate.
2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 9, 1953
Ben Zvi Hears
Immiarants' Woes
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Presi-
dent and Mrs. Ben Zvi this week
received as guests in their home
a group of 76 immigrants repre-
senting residents of maabarot
in all parts of the country.
The President encouraged the
immigrants to outline their
problems and grievances, and
heard the newcomers describe
it h e widespread unemployment
in the camps, the poor sanitary
and health conditions and the
lack of cultural facilities.
A spokesman for immigrants
from East European countries
urged the government to help
them maintain ties with rela-
tives left behind and to try to
bring those relatives to Israel.
The President took notes on
the complaints and told the im-
migrants that every effort was
being made and would be made
to meet their needs. He urged
them to overcome and eradicate
friction among recent • immi-
grants from different countries,
pointing out that they were "all
sons of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob," and "not Persian, Ye-
menite or Moroccan Jews."
Committees Start Functioning for
Tercentenary Celebration in. Detroit
Committees recently selected
to assist in planning Detroit's
participation in the Tercentenary I
of American Jewry this week
commenced their activities. Re-
ports of com-
mittees will be
submitted at a
meeting of all
committee
heads, at Tem-
ple Beth El, Oct.
22.
The religious
art, music and
school partici-
pation groups
1. I. Katz
are being organized by their re-
spective charimen, and over-all
plans call for celebrations in De-
troit, starting in September of
1954, simultaneous with the na-
tional observance.
Irving I. Katz, secretary of
the committee, this week stated
that wide interest is being dis-
played in Detroit circles in the
forthcoming celebration. De-
tails, regarding the planned
Open $4,000,000 Hospital
observances are available from
Mr. Katz or Philip Slomovitz,
chairman of the Detroit com-
mittee.
Eisenhower Lauds
Role of Centers
NEW YORK, (JTA) — The
.
role which Jewish center
thrOughout the nation are play;
ing in American life was ein-
phasized by President Eise
hower -in a message to the Na;-
tional Jewish Welfare Board on
the occasion of the 100th anni-
versary of the Jewish Center
movement in the United States.
Centennial celebrations will•be
held by Jewish centers and
Young Men's and Women's He-
brew Association during the next
six months.
According to JWB, parent or-
ganization of the center move-
ment, these institutions have
more than 500,000 members and
employ 1,250 professional worit.;.
ers. Their annual budget ex-
ceeds $13,000,000.
In his message, the President
said the movement constitutes
"an asset of rare worth to the
life and development of civil-
ization in America." The cen-
ters, he added, have "infused the
ordinary lives of uncounted
numbers of people . . • with
purpose, cheer, creative s el 1-
awareness and lively meaning."
LOS ANGELES, (JTA) — An
all-day conference attended by
civic and religious leaders and
A Goldberg Saves
representatives of 150 auxiliaries
and affiliates of Mt. Sinai Hos-
A Delaney in Korea
pital opened the $4,000,000 build-
"Only in America would a ing campaign of the institution.
Goldberg save a Delaney."
That was the comment made
by Jimmy Delaney of Brookline,
Mass., Marine combat veteran
of Korea, in describing a battle
By BORIS SMOLAR
incident in which a buddy saved
his life. His friend was Len
(Copyright, 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Goldberg of St. Albans, N.Y., a
Navy, medical corpsman . at- UN Moods
tached to an infantry platoon
Although Secretary of State John Foster Dulles keeps pin-z
in the Fifth Regiment of the pricking Israel for transferring its Foreign Ministry from Tel Aviv
First Marine Division.
to Jerusalem, it is highly doubtful that the U.S. will ever insist on
In a letter to Albert J. Gross- the internationalization of Jerusalem . . . Such internationaliza-'
man, of Baltimore, Jewish War tion would give Moscow a foothold in Jerusalem at a time when
Veterans Service Officer, De- the U.S. Government is doing everything possible to prevent Soviet
laney, now a patient at the U.S. influence from gaining in the Middle East . . This seems to 'be
Naval Hospital at Chelsea, Mass., the reason why the United States, Britain and other countries
said his unit was holding an who protect Israel's proclamation of Jerusalem as capital of the
isolated sector of the front line Jewish State have, nevertheless, not raised the issue at the present
when he was wounded by a mor- session of the UN General Assembly . . . It is obvious that if Jeru-
tar fragment that put a hole salem were put under UN adthinistration, the Soviet Union, as one
"the size of a baseball" between of the Big Powers, would request representation on the adminis-
his ankle and his knee.
tration . . . Especially, since Moscow has a lot of property in both
"I tried to get back for med- parts of Jerusalem . . Admitting the Soviet government into
ical aid, but was helpless," wrote partnership in an international administration of Jerusalem would
Delaney. "Goldberg found me actually mean giving the Russians the best chance to penetrate
in this sector where he had no into the heart of the Middle East . . . This is something which
right to be, gave me first aid not only Washington must take into consideration, but also the
and defended me from t h e Vatican circles which are conducting' such intense propaganda
enemy until stretcher bearers for the internationalization of Jerusalem . . . Those in the United
arrived."
Nations who have a sober approach to the Jerusalem issue, con-
As a result of using his body sider the present Jerusalem situation most acceptable since the
as a shield for the wounded two countries directly interested in Jerusalem—Israel and Jordan
Marine, Goldberg was himself —seem to get along very well in the divided city . . . This despite
wounded, but said nothing about the fact that they are in a state of war and do not see eye to eye
it until Delaney was safely eva- on any other issues affecting Arab-Israel relations . . In fact,
cuated.
some observers at the U.N. are of the opinion that the United
Delaney said that everyone States could utilize the Israel-Jordan amity in divided Jerusalem
else but himself who had wit- as a springboard for developing better relations and eventual
nessed the incident had subse- peace, first between Jordan and Israel and later between the other
quently been killed, and that he Arab countries and the Jewish State.
*
*
*
had written to the command-
ing officer of the First Marine Communal Affairs
Division so that Goldberg, who
American Jews are now starting a six-month celebration of
still has two years to serve in the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Jewish community
Korea, would receive credit for centers .. . There are at present about 350 Jewish centers and
his heroism.
YMHA's affiliated with the National Jewish Welfare Board with a
membership of about 600,000 ., . Thee number will undoubtedly
continue to grow since' the Jewish community center is gradually
Syrians Cut Off
becoming the institution which attracts more and more American
Israel Water Supply
Jewish youth . . . It is at the Jewish center that the young Amer-
ican Jew can spend his evening meeting friends, listening to
TEL AVIV, (JTA)—Syrian au- concerts, reading good books, playing his favorite games and gen-
thorities have cut off an Israeli erally feeling at home ... No wonder the synagogue in America
settlement, Kibbutz, Shamir, in is strongly aware of the competition of the Jewish center in
Estrangement between the center
Upper Galilee from water sup- attracting Jewish youth . .
plied to the kibbutz under a and the synagogue has been due in no small measure to the as-
two-year old agreement nego- sumption—and sometime to the fact—that the center leaders are
•tiated by the Israel-Syrian "secularist" and hostile to formal religion . . . The majority 'of
rabbis desire to see "more religion" in the center, but they are not
Mixed Armistice Commission.
The agreement provided that clear as to what is lacking . . Some of them argue—and perhaps
the' stream, which is inside with justice—that many of the professional center workers have
Syrian territory, is diverted into no adequate Jewish education, and are therefore not qualified to
the settlement's water system conduct Jewish activities . . On the other hand, the center
each night and 'that 'during the workers feel the rabbis lack the qualifications to pass judgment
day it is sent through an irriga- upon their work .. . That few rabbis have had 'training in social
tion system used by both set- work can hardly be questioned . . . The institutional rivalries
tlement and Arab • rice growers between the Jewish center and the synagogue are all the more
in the region. The blocking off complicated because in numerous places the rabbi, as spiritual
. of the Israeli Water line has leader:, is wont to aspire to general supervision of Jewish corn.-
caused the water to flow on un- munal life, and this is regarded as an intrusion by center boards
and staffs . .. Several years ago the. Jewish Welfare' Board. con-
used.
Israel protested to the Israel- ducted a comprehensive survey of the .functions of the. Jewish
Syrian MAC against the diver- centers . . . The most important Conclusion of the survey was
sion of a stream. Israel pointed that the Jewish center should have a Jewish purpose—that it
out that Israel is supplying should be an agency with which the Jew might identify himself
water for Syrian farmers in an- in order 'to satisfy his specialized Jewish needs . ... This was
other area while Syrians are taken to- mean that the program of the. Jewish center should
permitting the water to go to devote primary attention to Jewish content, without excluding or
waste by diverting it from the ignoring the general activities , which are essential for a well-
.
Between You and Me
, ShamiT -settlement. _
rounded :center program. a