Purely Commentary
ACLU on Wrong Track on Klan Issue
An American Civil Liberties Union member should live up to the
principles enunciated by the ACLU and criticize when the organization
goes on a tangent. That's what we are compelled to do in the matter
involving the Ku Klux Klan.
If a government agency can expose the bigotries of a secret or-
ganization that flouts the law and defies all human decencies, it
should do so.
When a hooded group persists in destroying the rights of fellow
citizens, the color of whose skin is darker than theirs, it •should be
dealt with by law.
But the ACLU speaks in terms of the vitality of democratic in-
stitutions" being imbedded "in their equal application to all." How
does that apply to a group that defies equality, that would destroy the
democratic•inStitutions?
There have been times when we were in a quandary. When the
ACLU asked for freedom of speech for Rockwell and his ilk they had
a better leg to . stand on—even though it was a very weak leg—than
the position on the KKK. Just because the ACLU dislikes the House
Committee on Un-American Activities does not mean that it is on safe
ground when it would give a free hand — without danger from in-
vestigators—to a hooded group.
Boycott of Germany
—
What a pity, therefore, that wrongs committed by governments can
not induce prompt rebuke. In the instance of West Germany, which
had yielded to Nasser's blackmail, there is a double injustice: that
performed against Israel and the negation of an arrangement that was
made with American approval. Our government' had consented to
Germany's shipping U.S.-made tanks to Israel, and now this deal is off,
because of Nasser's determination to strive for Israel's destruction.
Would that boycotts were unnecessary. But they may become
effective if blackmail becomes the rule in international relations.
-
Opened in Philadelphia
VOMOViti
I first of its kind on the Eastern
get red carpet treatment.
Seaboard, was opened at Gratz
"Now Germany threatens to cut off economic aid to Egypt if the , College. The Joseph Kutler Library
Ulbricht visit is carried out. Such aid amounted to nearly $200 million : was established by Dr. Claire
during the first five-year plan. However, President Nasser has proved i . Schaff in memory of her brother.
in the past that he is allergic to dictation based on aid.
A Gratz College graduate, Dr.
"Meanwhile, supplies of Russian arms to Egypt and the other
Arab countries have been increasing. The Israelis have a right to be Schaff teaches music at Rutgers
profoundly disturbed as well as angry by the loss of the remainder of University and the Philadelphia
the arms—some $20 million worth—which they expected from Germany. Musical Academy.
"The whole affair has been an ignominious defeat for West The library contains scores for
Germany, but it has also raised the danger level in the Middle East. I large and small orchestras, chain-
Southeast Asia and the Congo are not the only parts of the world ber music, string quartets and solo
where war is possible." instrumental works.
A score of other newspapers have warned against the menace
Establishment of the library
has attracted interest in this
that spells Nasser. It is a danger to peace and it must be overcome.
But it can not be fought if we yield to blackmail. That is why expres-
country and overseas. Contribu-
sions of public opinion are vitally needed. And public opinion at
tions of compositions are being
times expresses itself- in the form of a boycott.
received as are requests for
the Principle Involved
American - Press Sees Through Bonn Cairo Fiasco
By Philip Jewish Music Library
PHILADELPHIA (JTA)—A lib-
shipments to Israel. This crude maneuver had no effect on the vary of Jewish instrumental music,
and
he
will
Egyptians. President Ulbricht is going to Cairo anyway,
Anticipating the possibility of a boycott of German-made goods
as a protest against the breach of an agreement by the Bonn govern-
ment to send certain arms to Israel, our hope last week was that there
would be an end to blackmail and that the German government would
honor its obligations.
Apparently, expediency still is vastly more important than morality.
There are, in Israel, hundreds of thousands of Jews who had survived
the German persecution. These people and their kinsmen must have
protection against a recurrence of Nazism. A new form of Nazism is
in evidence in Cairo, but the Nasser blackmail threats appear to be
more effective than the human values inherent in an agreement with
Israel.
Therefore, a boycott seemed inevitable, and it is to the credit of
several important firms that they saw fit to institute one. But our
government doesn't like it. A State Department spokesman is invoking
"principle," and we now have a new debate over the boycott threat.
When the boycott against German-made goods was proposed in
the Hitler era there also were doubts relative to its efficacy. But that
was in the beginning, when there still was concern over the safety
of German Jews. It didn't take long to be convinced that a boycott
was a necessity, and it became a challenge to every person with a
sense of decency.
But the State Department position is expressed in this declaration:
"As a matter of principle, we do not favor private boycotts as a
measure of retaliation. This policy applies no matter what the reason
or inspiration for such a boycott."
Governments do not conduct boycotts: there are sanctions. Congress
was in favor of a punishment of Nasser in the form of a type of
sanction that would have deprived Egypt of aid under circumstances
that called for a rebuke for anti-Americanism. When there are abuses,
people often react by refusing to deal with the abusers.
If a principle is involved, why wasn't something done to stop
the destructive Arab boycott not only against Israel but as a
weapon against many American firms, owned by non-Jews as well
as Jews?
The Principles Controlling
International Affairs: Our
State Dept. and the Boycott
*
scores for performances. The
American-Israel Cultural Foun-
For a quarter of a century, a distinguished leader in the pharma-
dation has contributed a substan-
ceutical trade has been active in the Jewish community, and his
tial number of compositions, and
major interest has been in traditional circles.
Issacher Miron, the foundation's
Morris Karbal has played a leading role in synagogue affairs.
Israeli representative, has urged
He has aided educational institutions and has supported the major
Israeli composers to contribute
fund-raising drives in our community. But by his labors and his
their scores.
generosity he has shown that he is closely linked with our community.
The Kutler Library is a major
Mrs. Karbal not only has given her husband encouragement in
element
of the Jewish music lib-
to
those
in
his work, but, in her own way, has assisted causes similar
rary in the division of community
which her husband has been active for many years.
The honor to be accorded them at the testimonial dinner on services of the college. Shalom
Altman, head of the music depart-
March 7, sponsored by the Vaad Harabonim, is well earned. It is a
mark of recognition of devoted efforts by dedicated members of ment and library director, said that
little was known in the musical
our community.
world of the creative contributions
of Jewish composers to music and
that the Kutler Library would
help to end this lack of knowledge,
Saluting the Morris Karbals: An Honor Well Earned
Moscow Jews Join World Protests
Against Bonn's May 8 Cut-Off Date
MOSCOW (JTA) — A meeting 105,000 Jews in the province, met
called to protest the West German Monday with Werner Oppel, West
government decision to allow the German consul-general in Toronto,
statute of limitations to take effect to protest the Bonn government's
for Nazi war criminals on May 8 plans.
was held Sunday night at the
About 150 Jews marched silently
Moscow Central Synagogue, it was from the headquarters of the
reported by Novosti, the Soviet YMHA to the German consul-
press agency which supplies news general, bearing placards voicing
to the foreign press.
their protests.
The large audience attending
In Copenhagen, a protest against
the rally adopted a resolution West German plans was sent to
voicing "deep indignation" at the the German government by the
Bonn stand "which threatened to Jewish Board of Deputies of Den-
allow Nazi war criminals to go mark. At the same time, protests
free," the Novosti report said.
on the subject were delivered to
Moscow Chief Rabbi Yehuda the German ambassador by the
Leib Levin lighted six large Veterans of the Danish Under-
candles at the rally in memory ground, the Scandinavian Jewish
of the 6,000,000 Jews murdered Youth League, and the Danish
by the Nazis.
Veterans of World War II.
Elsewhere:
In Amsterdam, the Dutch gov-
In Toronto a delegation repre- ernment sent a message to the
senting 375 organizations in On- West German government urging
tario, authorized to speak for the Bonn to extend the statute of limi-
tations. At the same time, the
Low Ticket Sales Cancel Dutch government offered to fur-
nish air documents the Dutch
Canadian Group Ousts
Anti-Semitic Officer
EDMONTON, A 1 t a . (JTA)—A
key member of the Social Credit
movement on the campus of the
University of Alberta was expell-
ed from the party for distributing
anti-Semitic literature.
Orvis Kennedy, executive direc-
tor of the Alberta Social Credit
Party, said that Walter Klinck, 30,
chairman of the campus Social
Credit group, had been informed
that his membership had been can-
celed.
Klinck was expelled after it was
found that he had placed on sale
at the Social Credit booth at the
university bookstore copies of the
notorious anti-Semitic canard,
"Protocols of the Elders of Zion."
Kennedy said that his party had
disassociated itself "from this anti-
Semitic nonsense many years ago..
Several weeks a g o , Robert
Thompson, national leader of the
Social Credit Party, wrote a letter
to the Canadian Jewish Congress
repudiating all semblance of anti-
Jewish feeling, and undertaking
to expel any members who advo-
cate anti-Semitism.
Fortunately, the press of this country sees through the masks that `The Deputy' in Montreal possess related to Nazi outrages
veil some of the international scandals. The latest action of the Bonn
MONTREAL (JTA)—A planned committed in this country during
regime is a scandal. It is a yielding to blackmail that does not lend two-night presentation of the con- the German occupation of Hol-
credit to the West German government.
land.
There is a serious warning in the editorial in the Washington Post troversial play "The Deputy" has
been canceled here because of 1
■0■111.04
which stated:
"In diplomacy as in common crime, blackmailers have an insatiable lack of public interest. A spokes-
thirst. Mr. Nasser was able to dictate Bonn's foreign policy by a verbal man for Rondeen Associates Ltd.,
threat and by inviting Walter Ulbricht, head of the East German which had booked the Forum for
regime, to Cairo for a visit. Having surrendered once, West Germany the play's presentation Tuesday
may be asked to take other steps adverse to Israel in order to prevent and Wednesday said, "There was
nothing at the box office."
possible recognition of East Germany.
"As a symbolic matter, Bonn's position is an unhappy one. It may
Commenting on "the lack of
be that West Germany has done much to provide material compensation response and complete indiffer-
(Copyright, 1965, Jewish
for wartime atrocities, and no doubt Bonn cannot be expected to ence of the public" which had
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
condition every aspect of its foreign policy to the memory of a haunted forced the cancelation, the spokes-
past. Still, it is true that Germany is tailoring her policies to the man said: "The play's on every- Communal Trends
demand of an Egyptian dictator who has sworn to destroy the nation body's tongue, but nobody did
The campaign of the United Jewish Appeal this year under- the
of Israel. Such is the truth, no matter how it is rationalized in Germany." anything about buying tickets." general chairmanship of Max Fisher seems to be moving in the direc-
The New York Times sees threats to world peace in the Middle He recalled that about 1,300 tick- tion of exceeding the results of last year's drive . . . There is practi-
East as well as in Southeast Asia and in the Congo and declares ets—about 600 a night—were sold cally no reduction in giving among contributors of $10,000 and higher
for the 5,000 seats available for sums; on the contrary, there is an increase . . . And the giving this
editorially:
The West Germans have made an almost incredible mess of the each of the performances.
year is "no dentist job"—no pulling teeth—but an eager fulfillment
linked issues of arms to Israel and relations with Egypt. As a result,
of duty . . . Cities like Philadelphia, Newark, San Francisco, Cleve-
President Nasser has been greatly strengthened; tensions in the already W. Berlin Arrests Four
land, Baltimore, Detroit are now ahead of what they were at this point
tense Middle East have risen; West German relations with Israel,
in the 1964 UJA campaign . . . And indications are that the situation
which had improved so greatly in recent years, have again sunk to a for Killing Jews, Gypsies will be the same in other communities when the campaign will develop
low of bitterness and anger; and Communist East Germany, Bonn's
BERLIN (JTA)—The West Ber- there . . . Max Fisher's warm personality is contributing a great deal
enemy, achieves a triumph.
lin prosecutor's office announced to the early success of the UJA drive this year . . . He spares no time
"It may have been an error on Chancellor Adenauer's part to make here that four former SS officers in visiting the larger communities to stimulate the campaigns there
the $80 million arms agreement with Israel in 1960, but, once made, who served in Nazi killer com- . . . A great deal of assistance to this year's campaign conies also from
there was no excuse not to go through with it. Israel's perennially mando groups in Germany-occu- the approximately 3,000 Jewish community leaders who visited Europe
dangerous position, surrounded as she is by Arab nations determined pied Europe, have been arrested and Israel during 1964 either as members of UJA missions, or as in-
to destroy her, meant that she needed arms to sustain what Prime and charged with complicity in dividual visitors aided by UJA staff to get acquainted on the spot with
Minister Eshkol of Israel yesterday called 'a balance of deterrence.' the murder of at least 6,500 what is being done there with UJA funds , . The Young Leadership
However, the arms could have been obtained elsewhere.
Russian Jews and Gypsies. The Mission was composed of 85 members . . . The UJA Women's Division.
"Another basic error has been Bonn's persistence in the `Hallstein men were identified as: Wilhelm Mission last October had 19 members . • • There were also 17 commun-
Doctrine' of not dealing with any nation that recognizes East Germany. Wiebens, 58; Oswald Schafer, 56; ity missions sent from different cities in the U.S. and they included
This has proved to be more of a nuisance in recent years than an Karl Rath, 55; and Heinz Tanger- 429 local community leaders . . . And no less than 2;300 individual
asset, and it has by no means been strictly honored.
man, 52. They are all employed Jews active in local community life have sought UJA advice and guid-
"President Nasser all along demanded that Germany cease her in West German industry.
ance on their trips to Europe and Israel in 1964 . . . This army of
arms shipments to Israel, but he got nowhere until he had the bold
"shelichim" from the United States to Israel has brought back to
idea of inviting East Germany's President Ulbricht to Egypt as a state
American Jews in many communities impressions which contribute no
THE
DETROIT
JEWISH
NEWS
guest. Bonn objected that this was de facto recognition and made the
little to the success of the UJA campaign.
2—Friday, February 26, 1965
egregious error of trying to buy off Mr. Nasser by halting the arms
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Boris Smolar's
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