The American Scene

Opposition to American participation in the Olympic Games at Berlin crystallized last week and was to be manifested this week at the annual convention of the American Athletic Union at Miami. The A.A.U., a year ago, voted not to certify American athletes for participation in the games until Germany removed the disabilities against Jewish athletes. Despite the action of the American Olympic Committee in voting to accept the invitation of Germany, the A.A.U. has not yet changed its stand.

Efforts of Avery Brundage, president of the A.A.U. and of the A.O.C., whose report to the latter body led to its acceptance of the invitation, to swing the A.A.U. into support of the games appeared certain to meet with strong opposition not only from Jewish members of the body but also from non-Jewish sportsmen who expressed dissatisfaction with Germany’s pledges.

BARTER

At Washington it appeared that pressure of Southern representatives for consummation of a barter deal with Germany involving the exchange of 500,000 bales of surplus American cotton for $30,000,000 in German goods were to be successful. Berlin had approved the terms of the agreement, it was stated, and only approval of American government departments was necessary. Secretary Wallace declared that the negotiations were “coming to a head.”

This shift in sentiment at Washington occasioned much surprise, particularly in view of Secretary Hull’s admonitions to Germany on the subject of discrimination against American creditors of the Reich. The stand which the United States had taken on Germany’s defaulted obligations had made it evident that this country could no longer place faith in Germany’s pledges. Consequently, Washington developments of the week came as a rude shock to those who had expected the government to pay heed to the protests of the millions who are opposed to the present German regime.

MEDICAL SCHOOLS

Much comment was occasioned by the forthright advice of President McConaughy of Wesleyan University to Jewish premedical students that medical schools limit the number of Jewish students and that those preparing for a career in medicine should govern themselves accordingly.

President McConaughy brought into the open what many Jewish college students have learned only through sad experience. That is that entrance to medical schools here is painfully difficult, impossible for all but a small fraction of the Jewish applicants.

Two views on an important subject were brought to the attention of American Jewish educators. Dr. Thomas S. Gates, president of the University of Pensylvania, stressed the importance of religious training and urged the Jewish community to increase efforts along such lines.

Dr. Leo Honor, of Chicago, appealed to Jewish educators not to stuff the minds of children with “primitive notions” which the teachers themselves did not believe. He also stressed the futility of mentioning God to children too young to understand the concept.

ALONG THE NAZI FRONT

Armed with information revealed by the Jewish Daily Bulletin, the Congressional Committee on un-American Activities took off last week after peddlers of anti-Semitic literature, chiefly the spurious “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” The committee questioned J. B. Snow, former statistician, whose anti-Semitic propaganda activities had been exposed by the Bulletin.

A committee hearing at which Congressman Dickstein presided took on the aspects of a farce when the bedecked Raymond Healey, youthful grammar school graduate and publisher of “Healey’s Weekly,” an anti-Jewish sheet published in Yorkville, was permitted to enact a Napoleonic role before a large body of appreciative members of the Friends of New Germany.

ZIONIST ACTIVITIES

The National Labor Committee for Palestine launched a $250,000 drive for Palestine labor activities. The Masada, Zionist youth group, adopted a six-point Zionist program of activities and closed its annual convention at Philadelphia with a sharp debate on the question of unity in American Jewish youth. Senator Wagner heartily approved the project for a “Palestine Day” on January 20.