A Christian boycott against Germany, launched with the signing of a pledge by 60 prominent Americans to shun Nazi goods, was announced today by Dr. William J. Schieffelin, chairman of the Citizens’ Union, who is acting as chairman of the Volunteer Christian Committee to Boycott Nazi Germany.
The committee, which comprises eleven churchmen, educators and others, plans to enlist Christians of all denominations in signing the boycott pledge and cooperating with boycott activities of various organizations. The 60 who have already signed the pledge include prominent writers, lawyers, educators and leaders in other fields of activity.
The pledge says in part: “We…pledge ourselves to do nothing, either directly or indirectly, which can aid the German Government as long as it maintains three principles which lie at the very heart of Nazi doctrine: first, violation of religious freedom; second, racial persecution; third, glorification of war and inculcation of race hatred into the minds of little children. As long as these doctrines prevail, we pledge ourselves not to travel on German ships, knowingly buy German goods or set foot on the territory of the Third Reich. We pledge this not in hatred of the German people, but because since we are not allowed to communicate with them by word, we can only open their eyes by letting our actions speak for us.”
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.
