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King of Denmark Averted a Pogrom in Russia, Danish Newspaper Discloses

February 16, 1927
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

That King Frederick of Denmark averted by his intervention a pogrom which was to have been carried out against the Jews in Russia, has just been disclosed in the “Illusteret Tidende”, an influential newspaper in Denmark. The report which is reprinted here today in the “Wahrheit”, the organ of the Jewish Union in Austria, states that the Chief Rabbi of Copenhagen had learned from a sure source that preparations were being made for a large-scale pogrom against the Jews in Russia. The Chief Rabbi consulted Moses Melchior, a prominent Jew and one of the leading businessmen in Denmark and influenced him to intervene with the King that he should make representations to the Czar to stop the pogrom preparations.

King Frederick told Melchior that it was impossible for him to interfere in the internal affairs of his uncle’s government in Russia. Melchior, however, continued to plead with him. “If Your Majesty,” he said, “reads in the press next week reports of massacres which have taken place in Russia I hope that your conscience will be clear.” And Melchior turned to go. The King, greatly moved by his words, stopped him and said: “Calm yourself. I will write to my uncle and will do all I can.”

“Your Majesty,” Melchior replied, “the gratitude of an old man can be of little value to you, but I hope that God’s blessing will be your reward.”

The King wrote to the Czar as he had promised to do and the pogroms did not take place.

Moses Melchior, who played so important a part in the averting of the pogrom, died in 1912 at the age of 88.

EINSTEIN DENIES REPORT OF HIS RESIGNATION

A denial of the report of the Palestine correspondent of the New York “Day” that Prof. Albert Einstein had resigned from the board of governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is contained in a cable received by the “Jewish Morning Journal” form Berlin.

J. Klinow. the “Morning Journal’s correspondent in Berlin, states that when he interviewed Professor Einstein he was authorized by the scientist to deny categorically the authenticity of this report. Prof. Einstein asked the correspondent to state that he will remain on the board and that he takes the greatest interest in all the affairs of the university.

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