The national elections in South Africa, which resulted in the resignation today of Prime Minister Jan Christian Smuts following the loss of his seat in Parliament, were not marked “by any anti-Semitic propaganda, despite the fact that the National Party which came out the victor in Tuesday’s elections, has preached anti-Jewish doctrines, especially during the years when Hitler was in power in Germany.
Until last October, the nationalist party openly advocated anti-Jewish discrimination in the spheres of immigration and naturalization, as well as quotas in the professions and in commerce. In October a statement was issued by Dr. Daniel Francois Malan, leader of the party, who vas called today to form a new South African Government, declaring that the nationalists are not anti-Semitic and would not introduce any anti-Jewish legislation. The statement added, however, that the National Party, when coming to power, would reduce further Jewish immigration into South Africa, except for immigrants admitted for humanitarian and religious reasons.
The statement by Dr. Malan seemed to be borne out by the election campaign during which nationalist speakers abstained from denouncing Jews. Nevertheless, the Jews here, like the rest of the population, are now awaiting an official statement of the new government’s plans.
Ten Jews were elected to Parliament in the national elections; nine of them are members of the United Party and one is a member of the Labor Party. Both these political groups supported Field Marshal Smuts who, only several days ago, announced the recognition of Israel by his government. The ten Jews elected include Mrs. Bertha Solomon, Morris Kentridge, Adolph Davis, Max Sonnenberg, Dr. Bernard Friedman, A. Bloomberg, A.E. Robinson, H.F. Oppenheimer and Dr. Henry Gluckman. The Laborite is H. Davidoff.
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.
