Warning that Fascist anti-Semitism was a prelude to attacks against British civil liberties was voiced in a resolution adopted yesterday by a conference of religious and political leaders under the auspices of the National Council for Civil Liberties. More than 300 delegates, representing 189 political, social and industrial organizations, participated in the sessions.
The resolution declared:
“This gathering, reflecting the religious and political opinions of British life, recalls its condemnation of the use of anti-Semitic propaganda and racial hatred. It recognizes that the Fascist attack against Jews is a prelude to an attack against the liberties of the whole people. It records that the history of Fascism on the continent clearly shows that racial discrimination against a section has resulted in the loss of political and religious freedom for the whole population. It insists that adoption by the Fascist movement in Britain of Jew-baiting as a means of building a political movement to destroy the democratic rights of the people must be combatted by the people as a whole if personal freedom is to be maintained.”
A second resolution urges that a delegation be sent to Home Secretary Sir John Simon with demands for enforcement of the existing law to prevent continuance of racial incitement and anti-Semitic propaganda.
Dr. Moses Gaster, 80-year-old Jewish scholar and religious leader, and Dr. Walter Robert Matthews, dean of St. Pauls, were among the principal speakers.
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