Nazis Interpret French Action to Seize Exiles’ Funds As Opening Anti-jewish Drive

Publication of a provisional list of Frenchmen who will be denationalized and whose property will be confiscated was interpreted by the German wireless today, in Vichy dispatches, as confirmation of rumors that “drastic measures are to be taken above all against persons of the Jewish race who engaged in activities detrimental to French national interests.”

While the list, which the German reports said was not yet officially confirmed but was being circulated in Vichy, contains names of several prominent French Jews, it is not limited to Jews. However, the Nazi reports lay emphasis on the names of Jews appearing on the list.

Baron Edouard de Rothschild and Louis Louis-Dreyfus, noted bankers, were named in the list which was broadcast over the French radio last night. (Baron Rothschild is in New York.)

Those that have been named–many of whom have fled to the United States–will not only lose their property but their French citizenship unless they appear before French authorities and give “good reason” for their flight from France at the times of the country’s collapse.

” As a great part of those persons on the list are of Jewish race it appears certain that their interests in France will be confiscated by the State unless they can prove that their interests served only France, which, according to opinion prevalent here will be extremely difficult, as it is found that the majority of French financial enterprises were owned by Jews and therefore were not serving France alone but international interests,” the German report said.

Other well-known persons whose names assertedly appears on the list are Louis Rosengart, maker of France’ s ” baby Ford” automobiles; M. Levitan, France’s most important hat manufacturer; Andre Geraud (Pertinax) and Genevieve Tabouis, noted newspaper writers and editorialists.