The protest against the persecution of German Jewry promises to become one of the greatest in the history of the United States. From hour to hour new voices and new organizations are adding their quota to the storm of indignation against the maltreatment and indignities to which the Jews in Germany are being subjected.
While the monster protest demonstration, accompanied by simultaneous demonstrations throughout the whole of the country is to be the peak of the vast protest movement, all walks of life, denominations, and organizations throughout the United States have shown concrete signs of sympathy with the sufferings of German Jewry. So numerous are the protest utterances, the resolutions, and the communications which have reached both Washington and the representative Jewish institutions in the United States, that it is not possible to give here more than a brief summary.
At Washington, three resolutions were introduced in the House to authorize the State Department to lodge a formal protest against attacks on United States citizens of Jewish origin. One resolution by Representative Dickstein, already referred to, asked for the issuance of instructions to Consuls abroad which would make it possible for German relatives of American citizens to receive visas.
The second resolution by Representative Celler, called on the State Department to protest to the German Government against the “cruelties, outrages and insults now practiced against out nationals who are Jews, now domiciled in Germany.” The third resolution by Representative Douglass of Massachusetts sought to authorize the President to inform the German Government that the United States viewed with concern the mistreatment of the Jews. Representative Dickstein’s resolution was referred to the Immigration Committee, while the resolutions of Representatives Celler and Douglass were referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In the course of the day, also, Representative Fish of New York called on the State Department in order to discuss the attacks on American citizens in Germany.
There was also a discussion in the House, following an attempt by Representative O’Connor of New York, to secure unanimous consent to insert in the Record two resolutions regarding the anti-Semitic agitation in Germany. The resolutions were respectively those adopted at the beginning of the week by the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress. After a brief discussion, the chances of the resolution being inserted in the Record were killed by a surprise objection raised by Representative McFadden of Pennsylvania.
NEW YORK STATE SENATE’S PROTEST RESOLUTION
The first official resolution to be adopted was that by the New York State Senate. The resolution, which was sponsored by Senator Samuel Mandelbaum and was adopted unanimously, asked Congress to protest to the Hitler Government against the violation of the rights of American Jews.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR’S 3,000,000 MEMBERSHIP JOINS PROTEST
An important development yesterday was the adherence to the protest movement of the American Federation of Labor, which has a membership of 3,000,000. The Federation will be represented at the Madison Square Garden meeting through its president, William Green, who will address the demonstration. Others who will address the rally in Madison Square Garden, are former Governor Alfred E. Smith, Bishop William T. Manning, Bishop Francis J. McConnell, former President of the Federal Council of Churches; and Senator Robert F. Wagner.
RABBINICAL ASSOCIATIONS PROCLAIM FAST FOR NEXT MONDAY
The three Orthodox Rabbinical associations of the United States, the Agudath Harabbonim, the Degela Harabbonim, and the Vaad Harabbonim, have set aside next Monday as the day for fasting and prayer. The joint announcement of the three associations lays upon all Orthodox Jews the duty of fasting and participating in the protest. Those who cannot fast are asked to contribute to the fund which is being raised in order to further the protest movement. Special services have been prepared for Monday in the synagogues and business men are asked to close their places of business in order to attend the services and take part in the protest parade. All sermons on Monday in the synagogues of New York are to be devoted exclusively to the subject of the Nazi persecutions.
POWERFUL PROTESTS FROM CHRISTIAN BODIES
Among the protests evoked are many from some of the most influential of the Christian bodies in the country Thus, the International Catholic Truth Society has forwarded to the State Department a form of protest which describes the Nazi activities as “un-Christian and barbarous.” It goes on to say that “the … nationalistic madness of Hitler against thousands of native born German Jews should arouse the righteous indignation of every lover of humanity.”
A protest of a like nature has been forwarded to Secretary Hull by the Rev. Theodore A. Greene on behalf of the Commission of International Relations of the General Council of the Congregation of Christian Churches. This protest speaks in the name of 6,670 Congregational and Christian Churches in the United States.
CONDEMNATIONS BY PROMINENT MEN
There could be no stronger indication of the feeling universally aroused by conditions in Germany than the general condemnation by men prominent throughout the world. Among them are personalities high in the religious, literary and scientific fields. Thus, Cardinal Hayes, who has just returned from Nassau, when told of what was happening in Germany, said: “I had thought that kind of persecution was a matter of past history … it is certainly deplorable to have persecution added to the other sorrows of the world.”
Henry A. Atkinson, Secretary of the Church Peace Union, and the World Alliance for International Friendship, who has returned from Germany, declared on landing from the French Liner “Paris”, that Hitler was a menace to world peace, and that there was no doubt that the Jews in Germany were suffering bitter persecution.
Bertrand Russell, noted British sociologist and philosopher, has, according to Universal Service, expressed himself as being shocked by the persecution of the Jews in Germany. He said “Spain drove out the Jews and ruined herself financially and scientifically; that is what will happen in Germany if the persecution continues.”
CHICAGO JEWS AND NON-JEWS UNITE IN PROTEST
All Chicago Jewish organizations, synagogues, fraternal societies, etc., have been asked to send delegates to a conference tonight at the Hotel La-Salle in order to formulate plans for a protest against the German Jewish outrages. The conference will fix the place and date of a city-wide mass meeting. Rabbi Solomon Goldman of the Anshe Emet Congregation, is Chairman of the Conference Committee; the other members are James H. Becker, Max Shulman and Philip Sachs.
Dr. Horace J. Bridges, head of the Chicago Ethical Culture Society, is preparing the draft of a friendly protest to the German people. This will be signed by a group of lay and spiritual leaders of the Christian denominations. The text will be broadcast over the radio and copies will also be sent to Germany in the hope that it may secure publication,.
Dr. Bridges has also asked the preachers of the various churches to discuss the German situation in their sermons next Sunday. He has also communicated with the various Christian bodies suggesting a protest meeting by non-Jews and has received promises of the fullest cooperation. Associated with Dr. Bridges are Bishop George Craig Stewart, Dr. Ernest Fremont Tittle, Dean Charles W. Gilkey of the Divinity School in the University of Chicago, Rev. John Thompson, Rev. Van Ogden Vogt, Professor Henry Nelson Wieman, Henry P. Chandler Dr. Shailer Mathews, Rev. Frederick F. Shannon and Fred Moore.
NEWARK, N. J., CITY COMMISSION ADOPTS RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY
A City Commission of the local government here has adopted a resolution of sympathy for German Jewry, and urged Congress to take steps to alleviate their distress. This is the first time in the history of the city that a resolution of this character was adopted.
It was presented by City Commissioner William J. Egan, an Irish Catholic, who yesterday appealed for a liberalization of immigration laws in order to permit entry of German Jews into the country.
JEWISH SEMINARIES, Y.M.H.A.’S, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS REINFORCE PROTESTS
Among the demonstrations and resolutions adopted up and down the country, there are included also many from Jewish seminaries, Y.M.H.A.’s and Youth Organizations, showing how deeply Jews of all ages and classes have been stirred.
The Jewish Teachers’ Seminary at a special meeting called for the purpose, adopted a resolution condemning the persecution of German Jewry and calling a conference of Youth and Student bodies for the purpose of arranging protest meetings in all American colleges and universities. The resolution also proposes the picketing of the German Embassy and Consulates in the United States in order to draw public attention to the state of affairs in Germany.
On behalf of the National Council of Young Israel, H. G. Fromberg, President, has addressed a resolution to President Roosevelt, asking him to adopt some means for voicing the protests and indignation of the American people against the barbaric treatment of Jews in Germany.
At the time of going to press, notices of protests, demonstrations and resolutions continue to stream in at an undiminished rate.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
