Boris Smolar's
'Between You
and Me'
Dallek's Biography of Dodd Reveals
Struggles to Expose the Nazi. Menace
New light on conditions that pre-
vailed during the first years of the
Hitler regime, and the attitude on
Nazism by the United States, are
(Copyright 1969, JTA Inc.)
revealed in a volume of great his-
toric significance, by Prof. Robert
Dallek of the University of Calif-
JEWISH ANXIETY: American Jewish leaders are showing anxiety ornia.
over the increased anti-Israel propaganda in this country. The American
In "Democrat and Diplomat—
Jewish Committee established, through Gallup poll data, that the pro-
The Life of William E. Dodd,"
portion of Americans sympathizing with Israel has dropped from 55 per
published
by Oxford University
cent in June 1967 to 50 per cent in January this year.
speech which declared 'Jews ...
the syphilis of all European peo-
ples' and finding extensive evi-
dence of fresh anti-Semitism on
his return, Dodd could not con-
clude that German leaders never
meant what they said, or that
conservative officials bad no
power to moderate the destruc-
tive actions of the regime. 'I was
put in the position of being hum-
bugged,' he told FDR, 'as indeed
I was.' "
Dodd kept warning of impending
dangers. Messersmith especially
saw through Hitler-Nazi machina-
tions and kept admonishing about
ensuing troubles and the lack of
sincerity in German assertions
and promises.
On the fourth year of his service
as ambassador Dodd sent the State
ties.' " Commenting on the Nazi
attitude towards the church,
Prof. Dallek indicated that "as
with the government's anti-Jew-
ish policy, the post-Olympic per-
iod was to bring a renewed of-
fensive against ecclesiastical op-
position to the regime."
Tragically, as Prof. Dallek re-
veals, members of the U.S. Senate,
primarily
Senators Borah a n d
Press, the author, a distinguished
King, assailed the reports by Dodd
The major official agency for Arab propaganda in this country is historian, describes the uncertain-
as
"the
figment
of a disturbed
the Arab Information Center. It is sponsored by the Arab League which ties, the hopes for peaceful rela-
mind." A quip in a Cincinnati
received millions of dollars from the 14 Arab nations it represents. This tions and the loss of faith in what
newspaper is quoted, ridiculing
Arab propaganda agency is registered with the Justice Department. It develops into the most tyrannical
the belief of si Nazi danger and
publishes a bimonthly news sheet "Arab News and Views" and a and cruel era in history.
assailing
Dodd personally.
monthly magazine "Arab World." The circulations of both publications
There was a time, during the
are reported to the Justice Department as being 13,000 and 18,000 Eve years — 1933-1938 — of Dodd's
Returning to this country, Dodd
respectively. They are sent to libraries, public figures, church leaders, services as U.S. ambassador to
addressed many groups, tried to
members of Congress, professors and editors of newspapers.
Germany, when he believed and
reach the ears of American offi-
The Arab Information Center, headquartered in New York and with hoped that amicable relations
cials, found that "he could not
regional offices, also solicits actively speaking engagements on radio could be established with Adolph
win his way into Roosevelt's
and television, as well as before service clubs, student groups and Hitler. They vanished and there I Department estimates of German crowded schedule" and be was
church organizations. It publishes a great variety of pamphlets for free began a period of difficult deal-
"ready to announce that he 'saw
distribution, sends press releases to newspapers and inserts advertise- ings, of State Department tactics affairs. Prof. Dallek states at this no leadership anywhere willing to
try to save Modern Civilization.' "
ments in leading newspapers. It announces essay contests as part of its that Dodd had to cope with and Point:
propaganda technique. The themes of the topics for the essays are which he challenged and often
"J elvish persecutions and
There Is a sad note In Prof.
overcame.
naturally anti-Israel.
church-state controversies show-
Dallek's assertation that "though
At the outset there were ef-
Another bold and most prolific Arab propaganda agency is the
ed no signs of abating or taking
Dodd was greatly discouraged
forts at peaceful negotiations.' a fundamentally different course.
Action Committee on American-Arab Relations. It operates from New
and would shortly express the
Dodd discussed with President
York and is directed by Mohammed I. Mehdi, an Iraqi who has applied
The introduction in August (1936)
opinion that the President and
Roosevelt, at a luncheon on June
for U.S. citizenship and who was previously associated with the Arab
of denying passports to Jews had
the
Secretary of State were un-
16. FDR wanted moderation of
Information Center. This committee claims 20,000 members, but it is
Dodd immediately writing the der the influence of semi-fascists
Jewish persecutions by use of
actually a one-man operation backed by about 200 wealthy men. Mehdi
department
that
it
was
an
at-
or
'half-Nazis'
in the diplomatic
"unofficial and personal influ-
lectures before church groups, appears frequently as an "Arab expert"
tempt, first, 'to prevent Jews corps and State Department who
ence"
and
be
considered
mis-
on local and national radio and television programs, and organizes
from following their capital pressed them to do nothing about
treatment of Jews shameful.
provocative pro-Arab demonstrations. The Committee for a Just Peace
abroad and enjoying Its use';
foreign affairs, he was not ready
Dodd wanted to give the Ger-
in the Middle East is one of his front organizations. Another front group
secondly, 'to limit the emigra-
to abandon his fight for a more
mans a chance before approving
tion of elements who would cer-
for his agency is the Federated Organization of American-Arab Rela-
enlightened
policy . . ."
of strong action against Ger-
tions.
tainly be hostile to Germany
many. Soon Hitler's fanaticism
A bit later, "Dodd at least had
.
once they left the country'; and
on the subject of the Jews be-
FUND-RAISING IN U.S.: The Palestine Liberation Organization
finally, to lay the groundwork the satisfaction of hearing from
came apparent.
office in New York—the American branch of the Arab group which
for the introduction of new tra- Josephus Daniels that 'events in
In
one
of
the
early
meetings
vel documents which would rec- Germany have more than justified
maintains the anti-Israel terrorists who style themselves as the "Pales-
Dodd had with Hitler, the Nazi
ognize the division of the popu- your vision of what was to take
tine Liberation Army"—is another Arab propaganda institution in this fuehrer
charged that there was
lation into the two classes of place . . ' "
country. It has been active in the United States almost since the Pales-;
propaganda
in
the
United
States
citizens created by the Nnrem-
tine Liberation Organization was formed at an Arab "summit meeting"
Dodd's views, his warnings of
in 1964. Its operations in this country are financed by the Arab League against Germany "almost certain-
berg laws. As for the immediate , the Nazi danger, soon gained wid-
ly put out by Jews." Prof. Dallek
to the tune of $1,000,000 a year.
future,
Dodd
reported
that
'the
est
recognition. He became very
reports on this score:
Jewish population awaits with ill, contracted pneumonia and died
The American Office of the Palestine Liberation Organization has
"Hitler declared himself con-
now become a fund-raising arm for Arab terrorists. Its director, Saadat
fear and trembling the termina.! on Feb. 8, 1940, his career then
vinced that the Jews above all
tion of the Olympic period Which: being hailed as that of a great
Hassan, a Christian and a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Tech-1
were responsible for anti-German
has vouchsafed them a certain, democrat. Prof. Dallek's book re-
nology, is now reported to be touring the U.S„ speaking to American- feelings in the United States. Tak-
respite against molestation, veals, however, the struggles he
Arab groups and collecting money for the El Fatah. He is registered ing advantage of Hitler's diatribe
though,'
he was quick to add, 'it had with American officials, the
with the Department of Justice as a foreign agent issuing pamphlets, '
may be doubted whether the Na- State Department, the President.
press releases and a newsletter with a circulation of 7,000. His anti- against the Jews to describe James
tional Socialists will be quite so He gained their attention a bit
Israel propaganda is full of wild assertions. The U.S. government was McDonald's Commission for Refu-
gees Coming from Germany and
attacked by him for appointing Arthur J. Goldberg as ambassador to
foolish as to spoil the good im- late. The Dallek book "Democrat
to emphasize the need to solve the
the United Nations.
pression made by the manage- and Diplomat" fills in a valuable
ment of the games by an imme- page of history realistically about
The Palestine Arab delegation is another body in this country claim- 'Jewish problem in a humane way,'
diate resumption of the more one of the great Americans in
ing to act on behald of Palestine Arabs. tI is the American branch of Dodd again found the chancellor
the Arab Higher Committee for Palestine, a group based in Lebanon uninformed and unreasonable, as-
spectacular anti-Jewish activi- ' the era of Nazism.
and headed by the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Aman el Husseini, who serting in reply that `nothing could
was Hitler's Principal collaborator. It has no official status in this come out of such a movement' and
country and it is registered as a foreign agent. It is most rabid in its that in fact the Jews would only'
use such an organization 'to make
anti-Semitic propaganda and is working hand-in-hand with American
gutter anti-Semites. Is director, Issa Nakleh, has often appeared with endless trouble.' Unwilling. how-
A most important biography, ' was mainly influenced by Judaic
to let the matter rest there.
anti-Semitic broadcasters and has addressed meetings called by such' ever,
Dodd began to
sympathies, that he hated Chris-
'a bit with having held a high rank among
bigots as Gerald L. K. Smith. Its principal output consists of anti- him about the argue
effects of violent ; best sellers for some time, ac-1 tian liberty, are branded as
Semitic pamphlets and anti-Jewish communications to U.S. and United treatment in the United States,' claimed among the major publish-; absurd. Blake also declares:
Nations officials which are being mailed to about 600 persons.
as a result 'to suggest a ed works in 1967, has been issued ! "The accusation of crypto-Juda-
A strong arm in the Arab propaganda machinery in this country is hoping
different procedure from that as a large. 770 page-paperback by ; ism made by Gladstone and
the Organization of Arab Students now claiming to have more than 8,000 which
had been followed . .
" Doubleday.
others does not stand investiga-
members and over 100 chapters in universities across the United States The quotations are from Dodd's I "Disraeli" by Robert Blake gains
tion; Disraeli was surprisingly
and Canada. On the eve of the Six-Day War, this organization staged a diary and the references to rescue additional large distribution in the
ignorant
of Jewish observances,
demonstration at the White House. Similar demonstrations were later efforts.
new edition. The first was issued by '
and seems to have had very
staged against pro-Israel speakers, and against Israel Bond dinners.
vague notions about the content
Dodd at first sought to quiet St. Martin's Press in hard cover.
down Jewish protests, when he' Blake's (reviewed in these col-
of Judaism. Otherwise he would
STRATEGY IN CHURCHES: Arab groups in this country and their
came back to the U.S. and vis- umns upon its appearance nearly
scarcely have argued that 'Chris-
supporters are now making special efforts to implant anti-Israel feelings
ited
Chicago
and
other
common-
two
years
ago)
is
one
of
the
co-
tianity is completed Judaism'
rn
in churches. And they are, regretfully, making headway in this effort,
ities.
He
believed
that
there
pletest
records
of
the
life
and
and deplored the fact that 'mil-
especially among Protestants. In this campaign, the Arabs and their
might be conciliation — a view works of the eminent British prime
lions of Jews should persist in
supporters employ not only anti-Zionism but also religious anti-Semitism ! with which U.S. Consul General minister.
believ ing only part of their reli-
—from sophisticated theological arguments to Nazi slurs and medieval
George
Mesiersmith
differed.
Explanations
of
Benjamin
Di,
superstitions like the blood libel.
Upon his return to Germany
raeli's (Beaconsfield's) Jewish ; Blake proceeds to add that Dis-
A group of Protestant and Orthodox clergymen has prepared and
"Dodd was beginning to feel he
interests and !earnings assume
widely distributed a "master strategy plan" calling for cooperation with' had been naive to assume that, special
importance In Blake's raeli's "Christianity did not fit into
ordinary category . . . he was
pro-Arab groups. Protestant clergymen have set up national and local ;
Hitler's regime was about to ' biography. William E. Glad- any
It is probably hope-
organizations to lobby before Congress and to sway- public opinion
change. Reading a Goebbels
stone's
aspersions,
that Disraeli curiously hazy.
through film showings, pamphlet and letter-to-the-editor campaigns .
less to exact
a coherent
body of
rdeolei t g riionne ,from his observations on
The best known such group is Americans for Middle East Understand-
ing. The World Council of Churches, a federation of 235 Protestant. t cities, and brings adult professionals from Arab lands to the U.S. for
Angelican and Orthodox denominations sent its associate general secre- raining in corporations. Recently, the American press revealed that the
The references to Disraeli's
tary, Father Paul Verghese, to the Middle East "to express solidarit y" organization had been substantially subsidized by the CIA for years.
The American Friends of the Middle East is not only fostering pro- Jewish interests are primarily
with the Arabs.
with regard to the characters in
Arab
opinion
in
this
country
through
lectures,
exhibits and publications,
Dozens of American welfare groups professing to seek aid in this
novels and to his Jewish de-
country for Arab refugees have come into existence since the Six-Day but is . also
. seeking to influence U.S. policy. It is named in the list of his
ons cooperating with the Arab Information Center. Sen. Hugh scent.
War. Some of them operate on a national scale while others operate
Several
pages are devoted, how-
locally in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, Boston. , Scott, Pennsylvania Republican, has charged that the organization
f pro-Arab,
primarly as a forum for
A
anti-Israel speeches in the ever, to a discussion of the issue
Houston, Dallas, St. Paul and other cities. They include the American 'functions
•
that revolved around the admis-
Middle East Rehabilitation, Inc., American Aid for Displaced Arabs,1 Jmted States.
Arab Emergency Relief Committee, Pal-Aid International, Americans g There are at least a half dozen similar Arab-American friendship sion to Parliament of Baron Lionel
de
Rothschild who was elected, re-
roups
operating
in
this
country.
One
of
them
is
the
Ad
Hoc
Committee
Working for Arab Refugee Effort, Unitarian-Universalist Service Corn- o
n the Middle East which is active in Washington mostly among Con- elected, refused admission because
mittee and others.
he
would not take the Christian
ressmen bringing the Arab situation to their attention. The impact of
Parallel with pro-Arab relief and welfare groups, there are also
Arab-American "friendship" groups like the American Friends of the these groups—as well as of the entire pro-Arab propaganda machinery oath which later was changed and
Middle East which operates from Washington and opened this year t ow operating in the U.S.—is difficult to measure. However, the fact the removal of disabilities of Jew-
regional offices in New York and San Francisco. This organization hat sympathy with Israel has dropped since after the Six-Day War is ish subjects was achieved.
Blake's is a great biography
supervises student exchanges between the Arab countries and th- ndicative.
.
Blake's 'Disraeli' in Paperback
United States, offers counseling services for Arab students in American
40•Feiday, 'August. 8,, 1969.
...
superseding many of the previous
THE. DETROIT JEWISH. NEWS life. stories oL Disraeli.