However, by his intimations, evasions and non-committal replies, this writer feels certain that Avery Brundage, America’s Olympic ambassador, will favor America’s participation in the Olympics despite Reich discrimination against Jews in sports.
Mr. Brundage was sent abroad by the A. A. U. and the American Olympic organization for the express purpose of investigating Nazi discrimination against Jewish athletes and to determine whether America should participate in the 1936 Berlin games. However, he said that he felt the actual decision was of such vital importance that he would present the case, pro and con, before the United States Olympic body tonight.
HE’LL FAVOR PARTICIPATION
Although Mr. Brundage refused to tell what his own sentiments on the matter of American participation are, it is the opinion of this writer that he will favor such participation and back it to his full power. We hazard this statement in view of the few facts Mr. Brundage did vouchsafe on the Ile de France yesterday.
“There was strong pressure from many Jewish organizations against participation in the Berlin games and they presented me with specific acts that occurred during the last year and a half. However, most of these conditions did not refer to Jews only but were used against other sport organizations as well. At the same time certain conditions preceding my arrival were remedied. This aroused my suspicions and I investigated thoroughly. However, I have the positive pledge of the German official designated by his government to present its case, that Germany will not discriminate against Jews for the 1936 Olympics. He is von Tschammer und Oston and this pledge was ratified by the Jewish representatives of the Maccabi sports Union and the German Jewish Veteran’s organization.”
IMPRESSED BY PLEDGE
Mr. Brundage intimated that this pledge of good faith left a very strong impression on him and that it had colored his evidence which will be presented tonight.
The first move on the part of the president of the American Olympic Committee when he arrived on the continent was to entrain for Stockholm. There a conference of the International Amateur Athletes was being held. Mr. Brundage declared that the reason for this trip was to discover the sentiment among the nations represented at this international sports gathering on the matter of participation in the Olympic games in the face of Jewish discrimination.
“I found,” said the Olympic investigator, “that the question resolves itself into whether or not the great sports organizations of the world confine themselves to sports or branch out into other fields such as the matter of Germany and the Jews. This will have to be thrashed out at the meeting.”
When this writer asked Mr. Brundage point blank whether he thought there was any doubt in his mind as to actual discrimination of Jewish athletes in Germany during the past year and a half the latter said, “I cannot say now. I shall leave everything for the meeting.”
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.
