The need for complete unity in Jewish life in this country, the subject of much discussion in recent weeks, was referred to in a resolution affirming the willingness of the American Jewish Congress to cooperate with all groups in defending the rights of Jews, at closing sessions, of the American Jewish Congress here at the Hotel Willard, which were attended by delegates from every part of the country.
The insistent appeal of all the speakers at the sessions that the United States make known publicly its position in relation to the persecution of Jews in Germany, was incorporated in a resolution, introduced by former Congressman Meyer Jacobstein of Rochester.
An integrated program on a world scale to deal with the emergencies created in Germany by the Hitlerite persecutions of the Jews was adopted. In anticipation of the World Jewish Congress, a world conference of representatives of all organized groups in Jewish life will be held sometime this summer. The conference will formulate plans for the setting up of the World Jewish Congress in 1934 at Geneva. Jews of America and of the entire world will be called upon to proceed with the election of delegates to the Congress.
Dr. Stephen S. Wise was re-elected honorary president of the American Jewish Congress and Bernard S. Deutsch, president. Nathan D. Perlman, Louis Lipsky and Dr. Samuel Margoshes were elected vice-presidents. Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum was re-elected chairman of the executive committee.
CONTINUE “GOOD OFFICES”
Mr. Jacobstein’s resolution said in part:
“In a spirit of unshakable devotion to the underlying principles of American institutions and the high aspirations of mankind, we express the fervent hope that recognizing this tragic emergency, our Government will continue to exert its good offices to help bring about a cessation of the wanton attacks upon the life, property and honor of the Jews in Germany.
“We respectfully call the attention of the Administration to the destruction of rights heaped on a peace-loving, unoffending, industrious and valuable section of the population of the German Reich and we declare that the motives and aims of these persecutions run counter not only to the principles of humanity and civilization, but tend also to nullify the achievement of economic stability and peaceful relations between the nations.”
PALESTINE SOLUTION
The delegates to the convention unanimously endorsed a resolution, setting forth that Palestine alone offered a permanent solution to the problem of Jewish homelessness, particularly with reference to those Jews in Germany who are seeking a refuge in flight. The plan proposed by the Zionist Organization of America, that the Jewish Agency for Palestine petition the League of Nations, through the Mandatory Government, to appoint a commission upon which an American representative shall be a member, to act in conjunction with the Jewish Agency to provide means for the permanent settlement in Palestine of Jewish refugees from Germany, was endorsed by the Congress.
Another resolution expressed “the deep gratitude” of the American Jewish Congress for the “hospitality and high-minded consideration” shown to thousands of refugees from Germany by England, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the Scandinavian countries.
In line with the decision of the Congress to mobilize public opinion against Hitlerism, the delegates voted that Dr. Margoshes’s resolution, calling for a petition to be signed by millions of Jews and non-Jews to both the United States Government and the League of Nations, appealing for intercession in behalf of the German Jews, be accepted.
ATTACKS VETERANS
Dr. Margoshes, editor of The Day, attacked the Jewish War Veterans’ Association, in a resolution, for calling upon the League of Nations to postpone action regarding the petition citing infringement of the Geneva convention of 1922, guaranteeing the rights of Jews in Upper Silesia. The matter was referred to the Administrative Committee for action.
Reports were presented by Dr. Mordecai Soltes, chairman of the Committee on Discrimination in Colleges; Rabbi J. X. Cohen, organization director of the Congress; Louis Biely on the situation of the Jews in Soviet Russia; Professor Max Winkler; Mrs. Stephen S. president of the Women’s Association of the American Jewish Congress, and A. H. Cohen, executive director.
Dr. Soltes reported that while educational institutions and the professions have not been entirely freed from anti-Semitism, the situation in the colleges of arts and sciences is improving constantly. This he said was due in part to the functioning of Jewish youth agencies in various colleges, especially in the West and more particularly to the good-will seminars for Protestants, Catholics and Jews, arranged throughout the country.
Reporting for the Committee on Economic Problems, which deals with discrimination against Jews who are seeking positions, Rabbi Cohen pointed out that his committee was responsible in some measure for the enactment of a law in the State of New York which prohibits the inquiry concerning the religious affiliations of an applicant for employment in the public school systems of the State of New York.
SENATOR NYE SPEAKS
Senator Gerald P. Nye, of North Dakota, condemning Hitlerism, approved the Congress plan of counter-propaganda against Hitler. Senator Nye said, in a speech at the Congress banquet:
“The only plan I know of in this emergency, is one which is painfully slow in the accomplishment of results. The plan is to educate and to help create an example that all the world can ultimately see and profit by Educate people away from prejudices.”
The friendship of the Roosevelt administration for the Jews was emphasized by Congressman A. J. Sabath, who expressed the view that President Roosevelt will bring home to Germany our country’s abhorrence of discrimination against any people.
Mr. Jacobstein challenged Hitler’s right to appeal to the nations of the world for fair play. He said:
“The Chancellor resents and resists the effort of nations to degrade Germany to an inferior status. Yet, he, in his fury and with one stroke of the pen, has disqualified, degraded and declassed 600,000 Jews.
“In the face of this greatest calamity that has befallen the Jews in centuries,” he continued, “we must present a united front and make a courageous attack on the common foe. To remain silent, or to submit to this degradation would not be only unfair to ourselves as Jews, but would be a desertion of the highest values in civilization. Ours is a battle, not merely for Jews but for common justice.”
The banquet session marked the opening of the $1,000,000 campaign for a defense fund against Hitlerism. Forty-two thousand, three hundred dollars were raised following the addresses of Louis Lipsky and Justice May, who made the appeal for funds.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
