Blaustein Warns of Possible Growth of Anti-semitism in U.S. if Economic Situation Worsens

Although organized anti-Semitism is decreasing in The United States, latent anti-Semitism, vague as yet, exists in too large a number of ?ur fellow-Americans," Jacob Blaustein, chairman of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee, reported today at the opening of the 41st annual meeting the Committee, held at the Hotel Commodore.

"Eternal vigilance and all the techniques at our command must be employed to ?ep it from flaring up to dangerous proportions when and if the current economic situation changes," Mr. Blaustein warned.

Reviewing the activities of the American Jewish Committee during the pastyea ?ar with regard to Palestine, Mr. Blaustein declared that the Committee "played a significant role in the United Nations partition decision." He cited a number of ?ts undertaken by the Committee in this direction, and emphasized that the policy ? the organization on the Palestine issue was based on the principle of removing displaced Jews from Europe as rapidly as possible.

American Jewish Committee concern for finding homes for DP’s, Mr. Blaustein said, has not been limited to Palestine. Immigration opportunities, he said, have been sought in a number of countries, including the United States.Reporting profess in the nationwide campaign for emergency legislation to admit DP’s into the U.S., Mr. Blaustein stated: "Whereas barely a year ago there seemed no possible chance for opening our gates to the DP’s of Europe, today I can say to you with ? good degree of confidence that these gates shall be opened, and the dispossessed and homeless in considerable numbers will find a resting place here and a soil in which they can grow strong and vigorous."

Declaring that existence for Jews–as for all persons–must be made secure ? whatever land they may live, Mr. Blaustein reported on the Committee’s activities ? the campaign for international guarantees of basic human liberties. "If any one government will not assume the protection of its minorities in their full civil fights," he said, "the United Nations must see to it that it does not evade its responsibility."

SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION RAMPANT IN AMERICA, DR. SLAWSON REPORTS

Social discrimination in America of the "Gentleman’s Agreement" variety is Rampant and far in excess of what might be expected in a democracy, Dr. John Slaw-son executive vice-president, declared at the meeting. "It must be stamped out," ?he said, "because otherwise it becomes a festering sore which ultimately can grow into a deep wound in the body of the American democratic structure. Discrimination in clubs, hotels, summer resorts and residential districts is much more than just ?annoying; it can in time be responsible for serious consequences such as persecution, ?strife and discord between religious and racial groups constituting our American population and ultimately the abrogation of our basic civil rights such as occurred in the European debacle ending with World War II."

The fight against social and other forms of discrimination, Dr. Slawson said, can be furthered through promotion and implementation of the "history making report," recently issued by President Truman Committee on Civil Rights. He recommended the creation of a citizens’ committee of prominent American leaders to promote the report.

The success of the Marshall Plan was termed basic to the preservation of civil rights in Western Europe by Dr. Slawson. In view of the fact that bigotry anti-Semitism constitute importable commodities, all those wishing to preserve will rights in America must fully endorse and work in behalf of the Marshall Plan ? Europe," he said.