Austria Curbs Emigration of Jewish Professionals; “ghetto” Schoolrooms Set Up

The Berlin Government, it was learned today, is determined to prevent emigration of many talented Jewish physicians and engineers, especially those who are under 45 years of age. Moreover, highly skilled Jewish workmen in specialized lines have been taken out of the Austrian army of unemployed and given positions in the Old Reich.

Several cases where capable Jewish professionals have been refused permission to emigrate have been reported. One involved a Surcenland Jewish physician, whose superiors were ordered to retain him on the hospital staff following his efforts to emigrate, spurred by fears of dismissal.

An engineer seeking to leave the country was told that a job awaited him at Potsdam. It is understood he “accepted.” Two skilled workmen, a locksmith and a weaver, are known to have been given positions across the border. Both were offered jobs when they appeared at the unemployment insurance office to have their cards stamped. When one of them exclaimed, “But I am a Jew, how can I accept!” an official testily replied: “Nobody asked you whether you are a Jew.”

These are not the first instances in which Nazis have conveniently disregarded the theory of “Aryan” superiority to use Jewish talents. It is noteworthy that in the widespread purge of the Austrian press many Jewish financial writers have not been dismissed. According to unverified reports not a few Jews have been retained in advisory capacities by the technical staffs of large corporations and even by Government boards.

JEWISH MUSICIANS, ACTORS LOSE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

Meanwhile, Jewish musicians and actors were expelled from the Artists’ Ring, making employment legally impossible for 250 Jewish entertainers. Consulates were informed yesterday that foreign Jews no longer need police permission to leave Austria.

Last night’s burning of Jewish books and anti-Nazi literature in Salzburg was not mentioned in a single newspaper here. A report written before the burning said that only a representative number of books would be destroyed and the rest saved for their paper content.

The public schools in the Eighth and Second Districts are tomorrow opening Jewish classes for which special space and entrances have been allotted. This arrangement will be replaced by separate Jewish buildings as soon as practicable.

Segregation of Jewish pupils was hailed by the Society of National Socialist Teachers as helpful both to Jews and “Aryans.” In a statement, the teachers’ society declared: “Aryan youth can legitimately demand pure Aryan surroundings. Moreover, the National Socialist revolution might be expected to bring an uneasy atmosphere over mixed groups. The Jews, therefore, will find things much easier in separate schools than if they were merely given separate classes or benches.”

New laws affecting relations between “Aryan” lawyers and Jewish clients were foreshadowed by Berlin reports. Meanwhile, the situation continued uncertain with some Nazi lawyers accepting Jews as clients and others refusing Jewish cases out of fear of Nazi Party disfavor.