For the first time in its almost 200-year existence, the Board of Deputies of British Jews today held a meeting outside London. It met here on the invitation of Manchester Mayor Abraham Moss, an active member of the Board for 30 years and one of its two vice-presidents. Last night, Mayor Moss gave a reception at City Hall to mark the Board’s first meeting in this city, and some 600 representatives of Jewish organizations, the Board and of synagogues, attended.
Speaking at the meeting today, Barnett Janner, M. P., and representative of the Board to the Jewish Claims Conference, reported on the Austrian Government’s stubborn resistance to a compromise solution on Jewish claims against Austria. He asserted that it was “deplorable” that Austria which is seeking its own political freedom should fail to give consideration to the “rightful demands” of world Jewish groups. He expressed the hope that when Austrian Chancellor Julius Raab visits London soon, it will be brought to his attention that his government’s attitude toward Jewish claims is not consistent with its own claim for independence.
In reply to questions, Dr. Abraham Cohen, president of the Board, explained that the Board had not asked the British Government to protest to Egypt over the arrest and trial of eight Egyptian Jews on charges of carrying on Zionist and Communist activities. He said because of the present poor relations between the British and Egyptian Governments, the Board felt a protest through the British Government might be more harmful than helpful. He added that the Board would ask other Jewish communities to ask their governments to appeal to the Egyptians in behalf of the Zionists.
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.