I am not an admirer of kings, but I admit I was somewhat touched by the fact that the King and Queen of England took it upon themselves to pay a special visit last Saturday to the Jewish district of London.
Under the present circumstances, when Mosley in England joins hands with Streicher in Germany against Jews, the special visit of the royal pair to the East Side of London is of significance. It shows that the rulers of England totally disapprove of anti-Semitism. It emphasizes that King George considers the English Jews equal members of the British family of nations.
SPECIAL EFFORTS MADE
Few probably are aware that the King of England is not permitted to enter the city of London without special permission from the Lord Mayor. Thus his visit to the Jewish East Side of London meant that the King had to make a special effort and go through certain formalities. The royal visit to the Jews on a Sabbath was therefore not incidental. It was a demonstration of the King’s direct interest in his Jewish subjects.
The Jews of England do not play a very important role in politics. Certainly not the Jews of Whitechapel. Nor do they play a role in finance. The few Jews like Sir Herbert Samuel or the Marquis of Reading who are active in British politics are as far removed from the Jewish masses as Secretary Morgenthau is from Jewish interests in America.
A PRO-JEWISH DEMONSTRATION
The visit of the King to White-chapel—the heart of the Jewish slums in London—cannot therefore be regarded a visit by a “politician” anxious to win more political support or popularity. It must be taken purely as a demonstration of pro-Jewish sentiment.
It is from this angle that the attention bestowed by the King on the London East Side on Saturday will not only be appreciated by the Jews of England, but will be remembered by Jews of other countries. It will influence many Englishmen against Mosley’s anti-Jewish propaganda. It will no doubt be cited as an illustration of British good-will towards the Jews as compared with the ill-will prevailing in many European countries.
ROYAL WISH FOR JEWS
At a time when the anti-Jewish spirit is spreading rapidly throughout the world, the King’s visit to the Jews is the best indication that Great Britain is immune to anti-Semitism, at least for the time being. The people of England respect their King. The special trip which he made to the East Side of London will be taken by them as a sign that the King disapproves of anti-Jewish agitation and that it is his wish to have the Jews considered as equals.
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.
