The United States Post Office Department today ruled that Nazi post cards mailed to defame and threaten Jews were in violation of statutes. “The chief inspector is currently investigating the activities of the American Nazi party with a view to determining those responsible for the mailings,” the Department announced.
Deputy Postmaster General Bill Brawley made this announcement in a letter to Rep. Seymour Halpero. The Congressman, who received a barrage of Nazi phone calls and mail, turned over a newly mailed Nazi piece, stating: “The Jews are going up the smokestack, Rockwell to power.”
Mr. Brawley said criminal proceedings are being considered and “you may be sure that everything feasible, under the law, will be done to bring the perpetrators to justice.” The chief postal inspector and general counsel of the Department joined Mr. Brawley in initiating action against the Nazis after examining the material mailed to Rep. Halpern.
Mr. Brawley said: “The chief postal inspector and the general counsel feel as I do, that these insidious missives should not be afforded the privilege of being transported in the United States mails. Preliminary analysis indicates the general counsel will find the mailings violative of the scurrilous and defamatory statute (18 United States Code 1718). Accordingly, the chief inspector has commenced action against the Nazi party to apprehend those responsible for the mailings and presentation to the Department of Justice for instituting criminal proceedings.”
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.
