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Italian Jews Express Fears over Gildemeester Plan for Ethiopia Settlement

November 12, 1939
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Growing alarm is felt in Jewish circles here at the possible repercussions of the propaganda being conducted by Frank van Gildemeester, Dutch Protestant banker, for his project of settling 30,000 “non-Aryan” refugees in the Lake Tsana district of Ethiopia.

While reports regarding the Italian Government’s approval of the plan are premature, many Italian Jews express the fear that they may be made to suffer from its consequences. Should the project fall through because of foreign opposition it is the Italian Jews who may be compelled to pay for any disappointment on the part of the Italian Government. And if the plan materializes, they fear that the Tsana settlement may become a Jewish “reservation” similar to the projected Jewish region in the Lublin area of Nazi Poland.

Although the official Italian news agency has denied that the Italian authorities have taken any action, it is believed that the Government intends to make the most of Gildemeester’s proposals.

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