Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matter

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]

The suggestion that the American Jewish Committee make an investigation to ascertain how much truth there is in the charge that some American colleges practice a secret “numerus clausus” against Jewish students, is put forth by Zivion in the “Forward” of March 27.

“I believe,” writes Zivion, “that such an investigation is of the utmost importance. Charges are being made from various quarters that American colleges and universities have become nests of anti-Semitism. It is even stated that in most colleges and universities there exists a secret ‘numerus clausus’ for Jews. It is said that all the rigorous tests and examinations required for entrance have been especially instituted so as to make it possible in a polite manner to reject Jewish applicants.

“If this is true, then American Jews should start the strongest protest movement. If, however, it is not true, then an authoritative Jewish organization should come out with a public statement declaring the charges to be a lie.”

The writer gives it as his opinion that the charges are exaggerated. “I do not doubt,” he says, “that a considerable degree of anti-Semitism can be found in the American colleges. Also, I do not doubt that there are to be found in every college and university in the United States professors and instructors who hate Jews. But that is not the question. The question is: are the charges true that Jewish students are discriminated against? For if all the charges made are true we would have to conclude that the American universities are more anti-Semitic than the Polish universities.

“Hence I believe that the American Jewish Committee should make an investigation, so that we may have the facts once and for all.”

WARNS AGAINST RENUNCIATION OF MINORITY RIGHTS BY TURKISH JEWS

If the Jewish population in the Republic of Turkey will renounce its minority rights, as is being planned by Jewish leaders in Turkey, it will constitute, according to the “Day” (March 27) a dangerous precedent.

Despite the good motives of the present Turkish government, the paper emphasizes; such a renunciation of their minority rights by the Turkish Jews would place their future fate entirely in the hands of the Turkish government whatever its attitude to the Jews might be in later times. Moreover, the “Day” points out:

“The system of minority rights gives protection not only to the Turkish Jews, but to the Jews in many other countries. It might therefore be expected that the Turkish Jews would consider this fact. If the Turkish government today can persuade its Jews to renounce their minority rights, then may not the Hungarian, Polish and Roumanian governments later request their Jews for a similar favor, in the name of patriotism, of course. It is easy to perceive what an embarrassing situation this would be for the whole East European Jewry, in view of the dangerous precedent set by the Turkish Jews.”

Jacob Schwartz, seventy-nine, a native of New York City, who until his retirement a few years ago was one of the foremost librarians in the country, died at his home in Greenwich, Conn. A system of indexing books, invented by Mr. Schwartz, is used in libraries throughout the country. He has been connected with many large libraries.