The World Jewish Congress today adopted resolutions providing for a world-wide campaign to battle Nazism and counteract anti-Semitism, and to aid emigration of Jews from countries of persecution.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed that Dr. Stephen S. Wise has received several threatening letters, including one bearing a German postmark and signed, “The American Black Legionaires and the Participants in the Olympiade.”
The letter states:
“The Jews will pay dearly some day in America. Hitler is a great leader. The Jews better begin to leave America.”
A heavy police guard was placed at the League of Nations Assembly Hall, where the 300 delegates from 32 countries are meeting, after a midnight street fight between Socialists and anti-Semites.
The local Nazis demonstrated, shouting, “Down with the Jews: Down with the Soviet:” They were dispersed by the police.
The congress, in a resolution, protested against the “barbaric persecution of Jews in Germany” and urged Jewish communities throughout the world to support the boycott of German goods and services. It called on Jews the world over to accept the Nazi “challenge.”
The resolutions warn the League of Nations that Nazi propaganda throughout the world “threatens the peace of the world and the foundations of modern civilization” and appeal to the governments of the world not to permit extension of Nazi racial laws into their countries.
To combat prejudice being spread in various countries by the Nazis, the congress decided to establish a central bureau to coordinate activities in fighting anti-Semitism.
The resolutions followed a report by Dr. Joseph Tennenbaum, of New York, chairman of the boycott committee, and an address by Dr, Georg Bernhard, editor of the Pariser Tageszeitung, a German emigre daily, who urged the congress to seek League action on behalf of German refugees.
Turning its attention to the problem of expatriating Jews from countries of persecution, the congress urged governments to extend to refugees the right to work and empowered its executive to negotiate with relief organizations in a plan to assist East European Jews.
The congress adopted a report by its immigration committee which aims at setting up a unified system of Jewish emigration. The report provides:
1) The congress is to invite all Jewish organizations interested in migration problems to coordinate their activities and follow a unified plan.
2) Emigration offices are to be established in various countries to aid in carrying out well-planned emigration.
3) The congress is to negotiate with governments to ascertain the possibilities for absorbing immigrants.
4) The congress is to approach the Jewish Colonization Association, endowed by the late Baron de Hirsch, for assignment of part of its capital to transfer East European Jews to new lands, if the governments permit.
5) Jews in countries able to absorb immigrants are urged to assist the congress in negotiations with their governments.
The economic commission presented a resolution asking Jewish employers not to discriminate against Jewish employees and asking the aid of Jewish and non-Jewish labor unions in this respect.
Other proposals urged establishment of an international bank to stimulate financing and exportation of goods produced by Jews, and asked strengthening of the Jewish position in agriculture and adjustment of Jews to new vocations.
The budget commission adopted a $75,000 annual budget for the congress. The American delegation pledged fifty per cent of this sum, England ten per cent, France seven, Poland five, and the other countries to make up the remainder.
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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.
