The Praha Riots

The speed with which the Czechoslovakian government acted to suppress the anti-Jewish riots which took place yesterday in Praha is the best proof that the Czechoslovakian authorities are not to be held responsible for the regrettable incident in which forty Jews and non-Jews were injured and many Jewish stores demolished.

The riots in Praha were directed not so much against the Jews as against the Germans. The Czech nationalists have for many years been waging war against the German element in Czechoslovakia. They object to the fact that German culture and the German language are still dominant in Czechoslovakia. They protest against the fact that movies in Czechoslovakia are still mostly German.

In this fight against German influence the Czech nationalist elements have always considered the Jew as siding with the Germans. They have maintained that the Jews in Czechoslovakia are helping to spread the German language. They were under the impression that the Jews were “Germanizing” Czechoslovakia.

The riots which occurred in Praha yesterday as an outgrowth of anti-German demonstrations prove that this impression has not disappeared even now, when the entire world knows that the Jews are bitter against Germany. To the Czech nationalists, the Jews are still agents of German culture.

Fortunately, the opinion of the Czech nationalists is not the opinion of the Czechoslovakian government. The government of Professor Masaryk is well known for its friendliness towards the Jews. Dr. Benes, the Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, has more than once helped Jewish delegations in Geneva fight for Jewish rights. Professor Masaryk has more than once expressed his deepest feelings for the Jews.

The Jews of the world trust Czechoslovakia. We are certain that the Czechoslovakian government will deal strictly with the rioters. We have no doubt that the guilty will get their punishment and that measures will be taken to prevent any agitation which may lead to the repetition of anti-Jewish events in Czechoslovakia.