London March of 40,000 Protests Revival of Racialism in Germany

A huge crowd, estimated at more than 40,000, marched through the streets of London this afternoon from an assembly point at Marble Arch to the West German Embassy, to protest against the resurgence of Nazism and anti-Semitism in the West German Federal Republic. The huge out turning, one of the biggest demonstrations here in recent years, braved biting cold and a penetrating drizzle. Some of the marchers came from points as far distant as Glasgow and Manchester. Many were accompanied by children.

The procession was led by Barnett Janner, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Anthony Greenwood, a member of the Labor Party’s “shadow cabinet”; Rev. Donald O. Soper, former president of the Methodist Council, and Commander Ashe Montagu, chairman of the Association of Jewish ex-serviceman and Women, which had organized the march. The four, with Dr. Merwyn Stockwood, Anglican Lord Bishop of Southwark, were received by Dr. Joachim von Ritter, the German charge d’affaires, to whom they delivered a statement of protest.

In a 45-minute meeting, the four British leaders stressed anxiety that former high Nazis still held positions of authority in the West German Government, The German envoy reportedly indicated that his government would set up a committee of inquiry.

Earlier in the day, the Board of Deputies discussed the situation at one of its best-attended meetings in years. President Janner told the Board: “The outbreaks follow a long series of similar events over the past year. This makes it abundantly clear that the spirit of Nazism has not been eradicated.”

He reported on meetings with the German envoy to whom he expressed British Jewry’s concern to have persons who were associated with the Nazi regime eliminated from prominent posts in the government and judiciary, and with the Swedish ambassador to whom he had protested against the activities of Einar Aberg, in distributing violent anti-Jewish material through the Swedish mail.