American disapproval of Nazi treatment of Jews and Catholics has reached the point where 61 per cent of the voters favor a boycott of German-made goods, the American Institute of Public Opinion reported today. The great majority see “eye to eye” with President Roosevelt in attacks on dictatorships, surveys showed.
The public’s attitude toward Germany was comparatively neutral up to the time of Hitler’s seizure of Austria early in 1938, Dr. George Gallup, director of the institute said. Prior to that event, 62 per cent of the voters thought the United States would be able to stay out of a European war, but after the Austrian coup 46 per cent said they thought the United States would have to fight Germany again within their lifetime.
The unpopularity of Germany was increased further by the Czecho-Slovakian crisis and the Munich agreement. Other studies found 92 per cent of the voters not believing Hitler’s statement that he has “no more territorial ambitions in Europe.” When voters were asked to name their favorite foreign countries only four per cent chose Germany.
Every American can “lift his head” proudly because President Roosevelt has protested persecution in Germany, Mayor LaGuardia declared last night at a testimonial dinner for Sidney Hillman, the labor leader, for the benefit of refugees at the Hotel Commodore. Hendrik Willem van Loon, the author and historian, urged at a luncheon yesterday that refugees from Germany and other totalitarian states be given temporary homes in America pending what he called the inevitable collapse of European dictatorships.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
