S. A. Liberal Party Adopts Anti-semitic Programme

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The new Liberal Party of South Africa, the formation of which was recently announced, is giving rise to fear in Jewish quarters that a new anti-Semitic Party has come into being in the Union.

The “Zionist Record” here publishes an article in this connection, in which it writes:

“The ‘Zionist Record’ is not a political newspaper in the sense of party politics in South Africa. That being the case, no reference would normally have been made in these columns to the reported formation of a new political party, as extensively related in the press. Unfortunately, however, the objects and programme of the new party, as described in the press, contain phrases and expressions which have very unpleasant associations with past experiences of anti-Semitic propaganda, and which sound somewhat unwelcomely familiar to the Jewish ear as being closely related to former anti-Jewish agitation and prejudice against alien immigration.

“The method of its introduction to the notice of the public, the thick, almost impenetrable cloud of mystery in which the birth and proceedings of the new political party were shrouded the absence of the mention of any names, the obvious desire of those concerned in the new formation to make it as ‘sensational’ and ‘creepy’ as possible, make the ‘business’ strangely and remarkably reminiscent of the now defunct ‘League of Gentiles.'”