Constantionple Despatch Gives Further Details of Turkish Jewish Leaders’ Act Renouncing Claim to Nat

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

The decision to proclaim the complete renunciation by the Jews of Turkey of all minority rights guaranteed under the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, was adopted at the meeting of the Jewish National Assembly held here yesterday at the offices of the Grand Rabbinate. About 70 notables of the Jewish Community were present. M. Jacques Bey Nahmias presided, and the Chief Rabbi, Chaim Bejerano Effendi, delivered the opening address. Mr. Marco Nahum, who reported on behalf of the Reorganization Commission, known as the Commission of Thirteen, gave an account of the preliminary negotiations conducted with the Government. On his proposal, the Assembly adopted the following resolutions:

1. “To proclaim solemnly the complete renunciation by all the Jews of Turkey of all minority rights.

2. “To ask the Government to regulate the administration of the community and its education institutions, charities and cultural institutions, to ask it to indicate the best means of assuring the existence of the community and its institutions, morally and materially, and the best methods of securing them legally.

3. “To submit to the Government a draft project of the status of the Jewish communal organisations. For over a century the Jewish community and its institutions have been sustained by various contributions made by the Jews. In view of the new situation the Government is asked to authorize the maintenance of these contributions as being the only means of keeping alive the community and its institutions.”

With the adoption of these resolutions, the Commission of Thirteen considered its task accomplished and was on its request relieved of its mandate. A Commission of Five consisting of Messrs. Nessim Masliah, Ferid Asseo, Avram Nahom, Moise Cohen and Isidore Galimidi, was appointed in its place to present to the Government the formal Act of Renunciation of Minority Rights and the suggestions for the future of the Jewish Community.

In the Act of Renunciation drawn up for presentation to the Government the signatories begin by recalling the loyalty always shown by the Jews of Turkey to the established authority. They recall further, how on various occasions since the Peace Conference of Lausanne the Jews have given expression to their intention of renouncing their rights as a minority, considering them to be redundant and useless living as they do in the heart of a free Republic which accords equal treatment to all citizens. Consequently, the document proceeds, the Jews represented in the Jewish National Assembly held at the Office of the Grand Rabbinate, in view of the separation achieved between the spiritual and the temporal authorities renounce all their rights as a minority granted them by the Treaty of Lausanne.

The text of the declaration was adopted unanimously by the Assembly and signed by all the notables present. The Commission of Five will sub### the document for signature to the other members of the Assembly who were not present at yesterday’s meeting and will then forward it to Angors.

An essay contest, open to all Jewish boys in this country, is being conducted by the Order of Aleph Zadik Aleph of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith.

A list of ten subjects have been chosen on which the contestant may write his essay which include the following: The Jew in the United States, the Jew in Poland, the Jew is Germany, the Jew in Mexico, the Jew in England, the Jew in Asia, the Jew in Russia, the Jew in Spain, the Jew in France, and the Jew in Palestine.

All entrants should submit their essays to the A. Z. A. chapter in or nearest their city.

The Jewish Sabbath Alliance of America issued an open letter addressed to all Jewish theatres urging them not to set the opening dates for plays on the days of the High Holidays.