In A striking interview in The Jewish Daily Forward, Thomas Mann, one of Germany’s foremost novelists, now on a brief visit in this country, declared that the brutal anti-Semitism under the Hitler regime is the greatest disgrace to the German people. He said that it is wrong to believe that the German people are on the whole in favor of the anti-Jewish policy of the Hitler government and that, on the contrary, the German people are ashamed of the savage methods with which the present German government is persecuting the Jews.
“The German people are not anti-Semitic.” Thomas Mann went on. “But I do not mean to say that anti-Semitism is a new tendency in Germany. The seed of anti-Semitism has been in the German people for some time. But Hitler knew how to utilize this seed for his propaganda purposes. The German people have suffered materially after the war. The nationalists, who were displeased with the democratic regime of the German republic, realized that in order to gain the sympathy of the discontented masses it was necessary to find someone to blame for Germany’s economic distress. And thus the Jew became the scapegoat.
“The German people, mystic by nature permit themselves to be deluded by such myths-particularly the youth, which is easily influenced by imposing parades and demonstrations. But it is my conviction that the present dark period in Germany is transitory, and the German people will once again take their place in the ranks of the civilized nations.”
When Thomas Mann was asked why there is no one in Germany today who would raise his voice against the anti-Jewish outrages as Emily Zola did at the time of the Dreyfus affair, he replied.
“We live today in a world of spiritual and moral degradation. Conceptions of justice and of liberal ideals have recently undergone a radical change in Europe. The spiritual and the human qualities have been crushed physical power and violence. besides, the intellectual forces are divided. It is therefore difficult to come out at this time with an expression of moral indignation against injustice.”
While there is much truth in the viewpoint of Thomas Mann, as outlined in this interview, it is still a puzzle to the world that in the whole of Germany throughout this period of Germany’s degradation not a single German “Aryan” intellectual, with the exception of some of the courageous religious leaders, dared to cry out to the German government in the hearing of the entire civilized world to halt the radical and religious persecutions, if not for the sake of the unfortunate victims, then at least for the sake of the German people, in whose name these atrocities are being committed.
When Emile Zola uttered his immortal “Jaccuse!” in behalf of one wrongly condemned man, many of the outstanding personalities in French public life joined Zola in his courageous protest. But the German intellectual leaders in Germany today are silent. As the private secretary to the late Stresemann asks rightly, “Are their tongues paralyzed by fear of the concentration camp? Is not the battle for justice worth every sacrifice?” It is just because the world is passing through a period of spiritual and moral depression and degradation that the voice of the intellectual leaders must attempt to make itself heard against injustice.
Count Leo Tolstoy dared to denounce the Tsarist government for the wholesale executions. In his unforgettable, “I cannot be silent!” he asked the Tsarist government to put the noose around his neck and hang him instead of hanging the young people who worked for liberation of the Russian people. Through Tolstoy spoke the conscience of Russia.
Where is the German Zola or Tolstoy who would dare speak for the conscience of the German people and tell the truth about the Nazi regime of terror?
CHAIM ARLOSOROFF
The first anniversary of Dr Chaim Arlosoroff’s death was marked yesterday by solemn and impressive ceremonies in various parts of Palestine.
Dr. Arlosoroff, the most brilliant of the younger Zionist leaders, was killed at the very height of his career. He was rapidly rising to leadership in the World Zionist Organization. He was endowed with courage, with ability, with tact and with idealism. He possessed the qualities of genuine statesmanship. As the builder and ideologist of the Jewish labor party in Palestine, he avoided extremism and narrow partisanship. He was regarded as the logical successor to Weizmann and Sokolow as president of the World Zionist Organization.
It is most deplorable that his assassination was turned into a political issue, which has intensified the friction between the labor elements and the Revisionist. It is inconceivable that there was a Jewish political motive behind the murder of the brilliant labor leader. The preliminary investigation and the evidence presented at the trial thus far apparently have failed to substantiate the theory that he was the victim of Revisionist terrorism.
The tragic and premature death of Dr. Arlosoroff has left a great void in Zionist leadership and all Jews who are genuinely concerned with the upbuilding of Jewish Palestine mourn his loss. The constructive achievements of Dr. Arlosoroff in Palestine will serve as a lasting inspiration to the present and future builders of the Jewish National Home.
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.
