Anti-jewish Tendencies in Moscow Trial Alleged by Mensheviks in Berlin: Even Jewish Communist Organ

A great deal will be made of what is claimed to be the anti-Jewish character of the recent Moscow trial of 14 Mensheviks, six of whom were Jews, in connection with which grave charges were preferred against the Jewish Socialist leaders Abramovitch and Dan, when the Berlin courts hear a libel action, which Abramovitch, the leader of the Jewish Socialist Party Bund, and a member of the Executive of the Second Socialist International; is to bring against the Berlin Communist daily, “Rote Fahne” for stating that he had lied when he denied on oath the Moscow accusation that he was in Russia in the spring of 1928. He is bringing the libel action against the “Rote Fahne” on the decision of the Central Committee of the Menshevik Organisation abroad.

The Mensheviks intend to take the opportunity provided by the action to expose the inquisition methods of the Bolshevist regime, bringing up among other questions the persecution of Zionists in Russia. It will also be shown how the trial of the 14 Mensheviks was made to intensify anti-Jewish feeling in Russia, by accentuating the large proportion of Jews among the accused. Even the Jewish Communist organ “Emess”, it is pointed out, published caricatures of the accused in which it emphasised their Jewish features. In one cartoon Abramovitch was shown wearing a Talith and got up as a Jewish old clo’ man. Ab. Cahan, the editor of the Socialist “Jewish Daily Forwards” of New York, also appeared in the cartoon with a big hooked nose, singing the Bundist anthem, the “Shvuoh” with Abramoviuch.