Newspaper Page Text
Page Two
The Southern Israelite
Friday, November 23
The .
Southern Israelite
ESTABLISHED IMS
PublwhH Wm*1( Uh ImWni N#w»
MOOT
M. S. MilWr
M. SU-pk**
NtlKu Ur<««
Eimtii* Off****.
SUM lor
IM MuMU *U V W MfcuM*. C*.
«uxri r*r*
& v
us rthh v»
GOLDBERG
a«t. K«« York City
Subscript ton Price -- 13 00 per year
Entered as MMonC-rUu*
Poet Offire nt Atlanta.
Art ef March 9. 1879.
matter at the
Ca., under the
The Bout hern I.raelte invite* eorrre-
txmdenre and literary contribution*,
but the editor »* not to be considered
a* *harlnu the view* cxpre**ed by the
writer* except those enunciated in the
editorial column*.
WEI7.MAN AT SIXTY
While Jews everywhere will be
paying tribute to Dr. Chaim Welz-
mann on the occasion of his sixti
eth birthday on November 27th, the
man who has been justly called the
greatest Jew since Herzl will be
quietly marking his natal day by
taking over the direction of the
new Daniel Sieff Chemical Re
search Institute at Rehoboth, Pal
estine. Although Dr. Wclzmann has
not been the titular leader of the
world Zionist movement since 1931,
Jewish and non - Jewish opinion
still regard him as the life force of
all Zionist activity. It was his po
litical genius, tireless devotion and
unselfish labor that helped to make
Itosslblc the miraculous advance
which Palestine has made since
1917. Of all the leaders of modern
Zionism he Is the one whose hold
on the popular imagination is sec
ond only to that of Herzl. He has
been the great builder and the
constructive statesman. His hand
has been the steadying influence
in nearly three decades of Zionist
history and achievement.
It is needless to review Dr. Weiz-
mann's contributions to the devel
opment of the Jewish Homeland.
They are an Imperishable chapter
of modern Jewish history. We join
with the millions of others, Jews
and non-Jews, In honoring the man
who has dedicated his life and
brilliant talents to* the Jewish peo
ple.
A SALUTARY WARNING
In suspending a one-year prison
sentence on William L. McClaugh-
lln, editor of the English section of
the Deutsche Zeitung, chief Nazi
organ, and president of the com
pany publishing the paper, who was
found guilty of libeling a Jew and.
Indirectly, the whole Jewish peo
ple, on condition that the Deutsche
Zeitung print a complete retraction
and immediately change its editor
ial policy, Judge Franklin Taylor of
Brooklyn gave the Nazi movement
in this country a terrific wallop.
The current Issue of the Deutsche
Zeitung not only apologizes to the
Jew whom It had libeled but com
pletely dissociates itself from the
Nazis, disowns the Friends of the
Nea ? Germany and all other anti-
Semitic groups and endorses the
anti-Nazi boycott.
Reeling from this blow, the Na
zis have established a new mouth
piece, the Deutsche Beobachter,
which Intends to continue where
the Deutsche Zeitung left off. But
the effect of the Deutsche Zeit-
ung’s new policy and Judge Taylor’s
verdict will be salutary and far-
reaching. While they will not halt
Nazi propaganda they will serve as
a healthy warning which will most
assuredly curtail the force and
menace of Nazi propaganda.
A CONFUSING REPORT
The text of the report of the
committee on unification and co
operation of the American Jewish
Congress Is couched in such clumsy
and confusing language that it may
well defeat its purpose. Its Inten
tion was to clarify the atmosphere
with regard to the controversy rag
ing over the world Jewish congress
and to extend an olive branch to
those Jewish groups which have
consistently opposed a world con
gress. It is regrettable, therefore,
that while the report has precipi
tated widespread discussion, few
people seem to be agreed as to its
meaning.
A few definite facts,' however,
emerge from it. First,’ the election
of American delegates to the world
congress will not be held In April,
1935 as originally planned. Instead,
there will be only elections to the
next session of the American Jew
ish Congress, the delegates to which
will be asked to “elect the Ameri
can delegates who are to cooperate
in the formation of a permanent
commission of the organized Jew
ries of the world which is to be
created by a world Jewish congress,
if and when it shall be called dur
ing 1935.” Secondly, the report pro
vides for reorganizing the election
board by including representatives
of all organizations willing to co
operate. In addition to voting for
delegates, the electorate will be ask
ed to give its opinion on two ques
tions: first, whether there shall be
one representative Jewish body in
America; and second, whether a
world Jewish congress shall set up
a permanent commission or Council
of Jewish Delegations to represent
the Jews before the League of Na
tions and to conduct the affairs of
the congress between sessions. Pro
vision is also made In the report for
negotiating with those organiza
tions now opposed to a world con
gress. If they should agree to co
operate in the establishment of the
permanent commission and accept
membership on it, the American
Jewish Congress is prepared to sub
mit the date of the world Jewish
congress to this commission. If the
negotiations fail, the American
Jewish Congress will act independ
ently.
It is difficult to understand what
this means. In one place the report
speaks of a world congress, as yet
non-existent, setting up a perma
nent commission. And then it of
fers to leave the selection of a date
for the world congress to this per
manent commission provided the
opponents of the world congress
help, create the permanent commis
sion. This raises the question of
which comes first, the chicken
iworld congress) or the egg (per
manent commission). The most
that can be said for the report at
this time is that it makes a world
Jewish congress next year extreme
ly improbable. To draw any other
definite conclusions would be futile
because of the failure of the re
ports framers to be more explicit
and less verbose.
The Jews Can Count On France
The Last Interview-Granted By Louis Barthou,
France’s Martyred Foreign Minister
By PIERRE VAN PAASSEN
Scooping the entire world, Mr.
Van Paasen, the Seven Arts Fea
ture Syndicate’s European corre
spondent, preserved for posterity
the significant views of one of
Europe’s greatest statesmen on
the Jewish question by obtaining
this sensational interview with
the late Louis Barthou shortly
before the French Foreign Minis
ter was assassinated together
with King Alexander of Jugosla
via—THE EDITOR.
5695—Hebrew Calendar—1934-5
Date
Dec. 8
Mar. 18
Mar. 19
Apr. 18
Apr. 19
Apr. 20
Apr 24
Apr. 25
June 1
June 7
8 «*inf
June 7
Sabbath
Occas’on
"Mikertx” (Hanukah)
dKIHw 1 Book of Esther
PI)RIM (Morn.) Book of Esther
FIRST DAY PASSOVER
SECOND DAY PASSOVER
Sabbath Choi Hamoed
Seventh Day Passover
Eighth Day Paaaove
Sabbath “Banakibar”
FIRST DAY SHABUOTH
SECOND DAY 8HABUOTH
I Tisha B’Ab Eve Book of
Imentation*.
PARIS.
If Poland has not put into effect
the threat to repudiate the clauses
of the Versailles Treaty relating to
the status of nation minorities in
the Polish State, this is entirely
due to the energetic intervention of
Monsieur Louis Barthou, France’s
foreign minister, who in a three
hour conversation succeeded in per
suading his Polish colleague, Col
onel Beck, to withdraw the project
ed measure, which, if carried into
effect, would unquestionably have
shaken Jewish life in Poland to its
very foundations.
This was revealed to me by M.
Barthou himself when he granted
me a private audience, after the
termination of the regular weekly
conference with the foreign corre
spondents at the Quai d’Orsay,
where he had appeared personally
to explain the significance of the
forthcoming visit to France of the
King of Jugoslavia. “The Polish
declaration.’’ said Monsieur Bar
thou. “did not menace the existing
system of alliances, per se, but it
was in my estimation a ‘detourne-
ment de l’esprlt,’ an affront to the
spirit of the fundamental concep
tions on which peace was estab
lished in Europe in 1918. We have
not the least desire to interfere in
the interior policies of the Polish
Republic, but we thought it well to
advise Poland that we could not
at this time envisage the repudia
tion of minority guarantees. When
I say we. I mean. Great Britain,
France and Italy, whose diplomatic
representatives in Geneva, Sir John
Simon and Baron Alois, fully sup
ported the Freeh point of view.”
added the veteran French diplomat.
“When • you opposed Colonel
Beck’s proposal, were you not in
some way guided by the alarm
which a repudiation of minority
rights for the Jews of Poland would
cause in the whole world?’’ I asked
M. Barthou.
“I cannot deny," he replied, “that
it would be very difficult for France
to give its adherence to a measure
which would be in flagrant con
tradiction to the principles of the
French Revolution and to the mod
ern conception of democracy. I am
certain that there was not the
slightest intention on the part of
the Polish Government to inaugu
rate a campaign of discrimination
against its citizens of Jewish, Car-
patho-Russian, Ukrainian or Ruth-
enian origin. The Poles are not
barbarians by any means. To Pol
and it was a question of prestige.
Colonel Beck looks upon the minor
ity status of certain national
groups in his country as a delimit
ation of Polish soverelnty, since
that status is defined by interna
tional treaty. He pointed out, and
quite correctly, that national mi
norities in other countries are not
subject to special international
legislation and he felt that this
constituted an infringement on the
status of Poland as a great Pow
er." . . .
“If the status of national minori
ties in, let us say, Germany, were
also made the subject of interna
tional treaty,” I asked next, “and in
some effective way submitted to
international control, through the
League of Nations, do you thing
we would make a step ahead In the
right direction?”
’Riat is the French view exact
ly.” replied M. Barthou. “It was one
of the matters overlooked at the
Versailles Conference. The grant
ing of national status to minorities
should never have been limited to
certain Eastern European states.
All should have come under this
clause. That is why we could not
accept Colonel Beck’s proposal. We
do not want the scrapping of mi
nority rights. We want to extend
the principle, if we can.” . . .
“But can you, now that Germany
has withdrawn from the League of
Nations?”
“Germany will be back in Gen-
THE
ORACLE
By CARL ALPERT
The Oracle answers all q Qfs .
tions of general Jewish intemti
Queries should be addressed tt I
The Oracle, in care of this p®.
per, and should be accompany
#ed by a self-addressed, stamp,
ed envelope.
Q. When did the Jews aba®,
don polygamy?—P. L.
A. It was by the Takkanah«
Rabbi Gershom of Mayence in the
year 1000 that the Jews agreed it
eva, T hope, before long,” he said, 1 a£ ^°P^ monogamy. It was felt tha;
reassurance in his voice. Germany : although the law was perfect aai
cannot possibly hew a lone trail in j therefore the Jewish patriai
the world. That would lead to com- could be adjudged of no wrong a
plete isolation.” ... 1 having more than one wife, ij
“Can Germany return whenever would be best not to go aga
she likes?" I asked. the feelings of their neighbon
“In principle she can, of course,” ; This follows the Jewish law i
Monsieur Barthou retorted, “but a
return to Geneva would also mean
acceptance of certain elementary
international obligations.” . . .
“Forgive me for speaking frank
ly," I said, “but would this mean
that France might insist for a little
more human treatment of the Jew-
“Dina de-Malkuta Dina," the I
law of the land is law’ to be ob-|
served.
ish minority in Germany?”
Louis Barthou, the great histor
ian of the French Revolution, did
not reply at once. He looked out of
the window’,, pensively. His long
musician’s fingers toyed restlessly
with his pince-nez. He looked at
me suddenly and smiled; he did not
say a word.
“M. Barthou,” I said, “a thrill of
admiration and respect for France
would go through the whole world.
I know such a move is not con
sidered correct diplomatic proced
ure, but sometimes humanity has
come first with France in the past.
We all remember the Dreyfuss Af
fair. We all know how French ar
mies and French influence broke
the hold of feudalism in Europe
after the Revolution. The French
people have never looked upon free
dom as an exclusive possession of
the French, but have always want
ed to extend it to others.” . . .
"I am well aware of what has
been done in Germany,” Louis Bar
thou said reflectively. “The Jews
have suffered enormously and un
justly. This is the view of all decent
Frenchmen. But it is quite anoth
er question for France to meddle in
the affairs of Germany to the ex
tent of demanding that the anti-
Jewish persecutions cease. . . That
would merely add fuel to the 1
flames. . . . But,” and here he turn
ed around sharply on his chair,
“but, some of us Frenchmen look
forward to the time when there
shall be a representative of a self-
constituted Jewish State in the
League. If that were to come, mat
ters would be enormously facilitat
ed. There are so many points of
agreement in the French and in
the Jewish spirit, that I cannot see
how the Jewish State would not be
on extremely friendly footing with
the French republic.”
“But that will be so far into the
future, I said, “and the suffering
is so great at present. It is not only
Germany, but there are so many
places where Jewish life is inse
cure.” . . .
“Why do not the Jews fight
back? asked M. Barthou suddenly.
“Why is there no single-minded,
dignified Jewish expression of opin
ion on this subject? Surely, the
Jews have enough national spirit
and discipline to give the world a
show of unison. I know Jews are
divided by religious lines and by
national lines, by economic status
and other barriers, but on this one
point they ought to make a com
mon stand at least.”
I reminded M. Barthou of the
plans for a World Jewish Congress.
"Excellent,” he said. “The Jewish
people seems to have found the
way at last. I hope this Congress
wiil become a reality. The French ° nCC
Government is watching its evolu
tion with considerable interest, I
might say.” And then he added:
Q. How many Jewish poli«.|
men arc there in the Palestine*® |
police force?—G. J.
A. The number of Jewish po-l
lice in the force is 287. This ex-1
ceeds the numbers in the force a |
the years 1930, 1931 and 1933.
Q. Who was the Pope who re
viewed all the cases of blood ac
cusations and proved the falsity o!
each charge?—A. E. L.
A. Lorenzo Ganganelli, later
Pope Clement XIV reviewed all
the principal cases of blood ac
cusation from the thirteenth to
the eighteenth century and dem
onstrated that the charges were
all groundless. Ganganelli’s de
fense of the Jews, which was is
sued in 1758 under the title of
“Not Only the Accuser Must Be
Believed,” saved the Jews of Po
land from such an accusation at
that time.
Q. How many Jews served in
the naval and marine service of
the United _ States ..during the
War?—S. W.
A. There were 15.700 Jewish
sailors and marines in the service
of this country. 433 Jews attain
ed the rank of commissioned of
ficers in the navy and 59 were
commissioned officers in the ma
rine service.
Q. Who first suggested that
the American Indians were of
Jewish descent?—T. R.
A. A Spanish clergyman Pol-
dan. in 1916 was the first to ex
press the belief that the Ameri
can Indians were descendants of
the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. In
1650 an Englishman, Thorowgood,
also wrote on the subject. Man-
asseh Ben Israel was a believer
in the theory. In recent times
Lord Kingborough devoted time
and money to the publication of
documents intended to prove the
Jewish origin of the American ab
origines.
Q. Is it true that a Jew in*
vented the microphone?—I. I.
A. Emil Berliner, American in
ventor, bom in Hanover, Ger-
many, in 1851, invented the loose
contact transmitter known as the
microphone. It was the practicali
ty of this instrument that made
possible the telephone and radio
on their present scale. He is also
the inventor of the gramophone.
The Oracle will soon be
available in book form as a
handy Jewish reference book.
See your bookdealer or wV lte
this paper for information.
“France has ere this made a stand
for the entire Jewish people. . . And
a central Jewish moral au
thority is constituted, I dare say.
France will not withhold its most
active sympathy and support from
such an organization.”
. j