A number of major national and local Jewish organizations in a joint statement today denounced as “infamous” slurs cast upon Defense Secretary George C. Marshall and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz by Rabbi Benjamin Schultz, national director of the American Jewish League Against Communism. “Such irresponsible attacks,” the statement said, “impair the fight against Communism.
In a speech in Washington this week, Rabbi Schultz had charged that Secretary Marshall is a “fall guy” in a plot to shield pro-Red activities; and that Admiral Nimitz, recently named chairman of the President’s Commission on Internal Security and Individual Rights, had a “bad” record “on tolerance of pro-Communists.”
Joining in the denunciation of Rabbi Schultz were the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Jewish Labor and 28 local Jewish councils throughout the country. The statement was released by the National Community Relations Advisory Council, their coordinating and joint policy-formulating body which was also a signatory.
The statement called Secretary Marshall and Admiral Nimitz “chief architects in the world-wide fight against totalitarianism” and labeled the slurs as “irresponsible” and “reprehensible.” Rabbi Schultz, the statement declared, “in no way represents any section of the American Jewish community.” (Brig. Gen. Julius Klein of Chicago announced his resignation from the American League Against Communism in protest against Rabbi Schultz’ attacks on General Marshall and Admiral Nimitz.)
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.
