U.S. Students Appeal to European Students to End Anti-semitic E Xcesse

Representatives of Christian and Jewish student and youth organizations of America issued an appeal today to European students, calling upon them to end the anti-Jewish excesses which have been occuring in many centers of learning throughout Central and Eastern Europe. These excesses have been so grave, particularly in Austria, Poland and Czecho-Slovakia, as to necessitate the temporary closing of the universities in many instances. The appeal is issued by the Committee on Student Relations, which was formed at the instigation of Avukah, the American Student Zionist Federation, last year, to take steps to inquire into racial and religious difficulties existing in the countries abroad. The chairman of the Committee is Ray H. Legate, Secretary of the Alumni Service of the Intercollegiate Y. M. C. A., and its secretary is James Waterman Wise, Executive Secretary of Avukah.

In issuing the appeal, Mr. Wise, on behalf of the Committee, stated that the Committee will attempt to work out, together with the International Student Service, some permanent plan to achieve better student relations between Jewish and Christian groups in European universities. This Committee which is composed of the National Student Federation of America. National Council of the Y. M. C. A., the World Student Christian Federation, the Intercollegiate Menorah Association, the Fellowship of Youth for Peace and Reconciliation. National Board of the Y. W. C. A., the American Student Zionist Federation, issued the following statement:

“To Our Fellow Students in Europe:

“American students have in the last weeks, learned with a deep sense of (Continued on Page 4)

“Not unmindful of complex and difficult situations existing in European as well as in American seats of higher learning, we cannot refrain from expressing our conviction that such anti-Jewish excesses as have recently occurred can only aggravate existing conditions and foment bitter hatreds. We stress what you must clearly see, that group hostility, prejudice and violence are remnants of barbarism, unworthy of educated men, or of civilized people.

“We appeal to you not to allow such excesses to occur again. The processes of reason and the will to understanding, which in international relations, are replacing the old order of mutual fear and hatred, must become and remain the accepted basis of student relationship. We call upon you not to permit your colleges and universities, which should lead the way in the forward march of the human spirit as well as of the intellect, to become breeding places of prejudice, intolerance and ill-will.

“For the Committee:

“Ray H. Legate, Chairman.

“James Waterman Wise, Secy.”