Beaverbrook Press Plays Up “alien Jewish Invasion”

The alleged menace of an “alien Jewish invasion” is being sensationally featured by the Beaverbrook newspapers, using as a springboard Magistrate Metcalfe’s condemnation of the immigration from Germany as an “outrage,” voiced Friday after he had sentenced three Jewish refugees to six-month prison terms for illegally entering England.

The Daily Express features on its first page what it describes as exclusive “revelations” of secret clearing houses in London’s East End to assist illegal immigrants. Implying the existence of an organization to help such immigrants, the paper asserts that the three persons sentenced yesterday were penniless when arrested, yet they were later plentifully supplied with funds. The Evening Standard last night distributed posters throughout London which read, “Alien Jews Pouring In.”

The liberal press is strongly critical of Metcalfe’s statement. The News Chronicle states in an editorial: “It may be his duty under the law to hound homeless and helpless refugees, but he really might try to do it with less obvious pleasure.” The laborite Daily Herald characterizes the statement as “the kind of words which men do not commonly use except to express depth of feeling rather than temperate judgment.” The Star rebukes the Daily Express, pointing out that Metcalfe’s statement pleased many but others “knowing the horrors in Germany impelling people to seek escape, are not quite happy about it.”