JEWS' SOLE HAVEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 11

JEWS' SOLE HAVEN

BRITAIN'S POSITION

RIGHTS FULLY SECURE

Warning that anti-Semitism was spreading rapidly and violently in Europe and that "Jews have no other choice than to fight back," Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the administrative committee of the World Jewish Congress, with headquarters in Geneva, outlined in an interview the Jewish situation in eight European countries, says the "New York Times."

Dr. Goldmann, who arrived to attend the American Jewish Congress' session, said that the only country in Europe in- which the rights of Jews remained fully secure was England. He blamed the "capitulation of the Western democracies in Munich" for the further, spreading of anti-Semitism in Europe and insisted that "France today witnesses a systematic antiJewish campaign:" \ "We have no other choice than to fight back:," said Dr. Goldmann. "Our very existence is at stake; we cannot afford to remain quiet. Jews must become conscious of their obligations and must learn to organise their defence five minutes before the zero hour." Regarding eight individual European countries, Dr.'Goldmann submitted the! following outline on their treatment of the Jewish question:— | Germany.—The Jewish problem has reached the last stage of total liquidation. By 1939 at the latest not the slightest possibility of earning a living will be left to the Jews. ' Italy .—The. anti-Semitic turn in her domestic policy is a result of Ger- ' many's pressure and Mussolini's fury against the Western -Powers. Italian j anti-Jewish laws concerning nonItalian Jews are even more harsh than! similar provisions; in Germany. MORE GERMAN PRESSURE. | Poland.—The policy of economic dis-j crimination has not been suspended in the last' Months and will be carried j on. Pressure for a settlement of thei Jewish problem through mass emigration is ever-increasing. Jewish equality of rights so far maintained in principle, will continue to be curtailed. Rumania.—-With Czechoslovakia under German influence, Rumania is exposed to direct German pressure. The consequences cannot but prove, catastrophic for the Rumanian Jews.' It is to be expected- that hundreds •of thousands of them will be denational; ised, while those whose citizenship will be confirmed will be pursued.

Czechoslovakia^ —An anti-Semitic turn is bound to occur because of Germany's explicit demand and as a reaction within the defeated ;nation- itself. . -.'. • ~.-•-.. -v ■'

Hungary.—The 20 per cent "nuiherus clausus" against the Jews has come in force and is rapidly being carried out. The completion of the process will not take five years as provided by law. . ■.....;.'

France.—ln search for a scapegoat for the Munich Agreement, which has caused profound consternation, the Jews are the pbvious victim. AntiSemitic propaganda by the Right wing is taking alarming forms. The rift in French domestic policy is so,deep that Fascist tendencies are rallying and will rally around anti-Semitic slogans. It is unlikely that the Jewish problem may rapidly become. acute, but antiSemitism will become fierce, and defence against such attacks, will be" one of dhe most urgent tasks of Jewish policy. Switzerland.—An advance of antiSemitisni is also to be reckoned With. True, democracy is-firmly rooted, but naturally enough, especially after the Czechoslovak experience, the country is feeling helpless against dictators. The result is an increasing anxiety, expressed in painful efforts at'neutrality. . . .-■;.".