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ing apparatus as from January,
1950.
Anti-defamation work in gen
eral was carried out successfully
by the Defence Committee of the
Board in consultation with similar
bodies abroad, mainly in the United
States. It received new impetus
during the past year by the ac
tivities of the Jewish war vet
erans organized in the Association
of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and
Women. Rejecting tactics of politi
cal and physical aggressiveness and
shunning any link-up with non-
Jewish political bodies — as prac
ticed by the smaller, though very
active, “43 Group” — they avoided
the danger of Jewish defense ac
tivities being identied in the public
eye with the extreme Left. While
playing an important part in out
door meetings — a characteristic
feature of English political life —
they did not allow themselves to
be drawn into those frequent small
clashes that occurred in the East
End between Communists and Fas
cists, followed by court proceed
ings that gave undue publicity to
Fascist propaganda. But they were
on the spot whenever the danger
became real. A large Mosleyite
procession, staged with Nazi mili
tary pomp in Brighton, a popular
seaside resort, was broken up by
Jewish war veterans, and soon their
own outdoor meetings began to at
tract larger crowds than Mosley’s
British Union could ever muster.
A most impressive affair was the
Jewish ex-servicemen’s annual re
membrance parade on November
14th, in which over 15,000 veterans
took part. The parade and the re
union meeting in Albert Hall that
followed in the evening did much
to enhance Jewish prestige through
out the country.
Meanwhile, increased pressure
was put on the Government to ef
fect the long overdue recognition
of Israel and thus end an unhappy
tension. Early in December, ex-
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden,
father of the Arab League, and
Winston Churchill himself pressed
the demand during the Foreign Af
fairs in Commons. They were
joined by Liberal chief Clement
Davies and many Socialist back
benchers. The need to align British
with United States policy also in
this important aspect was the tenor
of the debate.
At the same time, the campaign
for the release of the Cyprus refu
gees, held unlawfully on the island
after the termination of the Man
date, was stepped up.
A critical stage in the develop
ment of Anglo-Israeli relations and
their impact on Jewish life in Eng
land was reached in January when
the Israeli army advanced to the
Egyptian border, Israeli fighters
shot down five British planes, and
Britain landed troops in Aqaba.
Six months ago such developments
would have led to a resurgence of
violent anti-Semitism in England.
By now, however, respect for Jew
ish military prowess and determi
nation had grown to the point
where the opposite effect was
achieved.
Though Bevin remained as stub
born as ever, opposition within the
Cabinet forced on him the release
of the Cyprus refugees. The deci
sion was announced after a Cabi
net meeting on January 17th. A
week later, de facto recognition of
Israel was granted by France and
Italy. It was clear that this could
not have happened without White
hall’s approval. Recognition by
Britain, announced at the end of
the same week, surprised no one.
It was received from Mr. Bevin’s
hands by Joseph Linton, Israel’s
Acting Representative, and on the
following morning jubilant crowds
greeted in Manchester Square the
hoisting of the Israeli flag and the
beginning of a new era in Anglo-
Israeli relations.
The arrival in April of a repre
sentative of full diplomatic stand
ing, Oxford-educated Dr. Mordecai
Eliash, followed next month by
the raising of his status to that of
Minister to the Court of St. James,
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continued the development to
wards normalcy in the relations be
tween Britain and Israel. The prac
tical aspects of the problem were
tackled by the opening shortly
afterwards of financial talks be
tween the two nations in London,
followed by conversations on a
higher level in Tel Aviv.
On the home front, the new turn
heralded the doom of Mosley’s
propaganda. At one of his last
large public meetings, held in the
Town Hall of the fashionable
“Royal borough” of Kensington two
days after Britain had recognized
Israel, Sir Oswald ranted in vain
against the new policy which, he
claimed, instead of declaring war
against Israel, had made Britons
"lick the dust beneath the feet of
Jewry.”
In the municipal elections at the
end of February the Mosleyites suf
fered a crushing defeat, and their
provocative march through the
Jewish districts of North London
was turned into something much
near to running the gauntlet
than a display of militant strength.
The Home Secretary, who had re
mained adamant to pleas to forbid
the Mosley march, now banned
street processions for three months.
The Mosley thugs could seek re
venge only in brutal and cowardly
attacks on isolated Jewish young
sters, many of whom were brought
to hospital with serious injuries.
While anti-Semitism had been
driven off the street by the close
of the Jewish year, much dissatis
faction was felt among Anglo-
Jewry at the failure of persistent
efforts to persuade the Govern
ment of the necessity to introduce
legislation making group libel and
incitement to group hatred a pun
ishable offense. There was a great
deal of speculation as to the real
We pause to extend our best wishes
at this Holiday Season
DR. CARSBIE C. ADAMS
Administrative Director
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The Southern Israelite
(43)