“down with Jews” Becoming Frequent Cry in Paris: Growing Antisemitic Activity Precipitated by Dreyfu

Antisemitic scenes are becoming more frequent in Paris than they have been for years, precipitated by the Dreyfus affair play at the Nouvelle Ambigue Theatre. “Down with the Jews” is heard very often these days in Paris, not only in the streets in the immediate vicinity of the theatre, but also in other parts of the city, and not only in connection with the Dreyfus play.

Antisemitism is beginning to assume a form unknown here since the days of the Dreyfus affair, and the Camelots du Roi aided by groups of hooligans anxious to make use of any pretext for stirring up trouble are exploiting every opportunity of starting anti-Jewish demonstrations.

Every public announcement of Jewish activities seems to be able now to bring together a group of antisemitic demonstrators. Some posters put up outside the Empire Music Hall to-day to announce the appearance of Sophie Tucker, the famous music hall artist in her song “My Yiddishe Mome”, have been torn down and an attempt was made to break into the music hall while she was on the stage. This was prevented by the police, however.

It is possible that the Government will be asked to take measures to prevent the further development of such incidents. In some Jewish quarters, however, it is felt that the manifestations are worked up by small groups of people who have no real support and that to take them seriously would be the best service that could be paid to the movement, which if it finds itself ignored will soon collapse.

Thirty years ago many towns in France resounded to the cries: “Down with the Jews”, Deputy Maurice Sibille, the oldest member of the French Chamber said in presiding by seniority at the opening of the new Parliamentary session about a fortnight ago. But the war, he went on, saw Freethinkers, Jews, Catholics and Protestants all doing their duty side by side, with the friendship born of the trenches. After the Armistice the custom grew up of soldiers commemorating their dead comrades by going from the Catholic Cathedral to the Protestant Church and to the Synagogue, so that all the fallen, whatever their religion, should be properly disappeared.