[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate spproval–Editor.]
There are today in Germany 620,000 Jews, or, approximately one per cent in a total population of 63 millions, we learn from a statistical survey of the status of the Jews in present-day Germany by Dr. Lee K. Frankel, which appears in “The American Hebrew” of Jan. 8.
“The Jewish population,” Dr. Frankel informs us, “has increased less, proportionately, than has the general population. In the forty years after 1871 the number of Jews in Germany increased 20 per cent as against an increase of 58 per cent for the total population. In the territorial cessions following the World War, Germany lost 12 per cent of its Jewish population, as compared with 10 per cent of its total population.”
Dr. Frankel points out that while the natural effect of the war was to decrease the number of marriages “the decline was greater for Jewish marriages than for non-Jewish. There was an excess of deaths over births in the total population during the short period from 1916-1918, but among the Jews the number of deaths exceeded the births throughout the entire War period and into 1920.”
Among 117 Nobel prize winners, it is also pointed out, 13 have been Jews. Thus, the Jews have received 11 per cent of the Nobel prizes while they represent only one per cent of the population.
PROFESSOR KEMMERER’S ADVICE TO POLAND
The advice given by Prof. Kemmerer of Princeton to the Polish government to grant the Jewish merchants and businessmen in Poland equal rights has a special significance, declares the “Jewish World” of Philadelphia, because the advice came not from a Jew nor one actuated by sentiments.
“Hitherto,” writes the paper, “Poland received such advice from persons whom she did not regard seriously; persons in whom she refused to have confidence. Now she has the same advice from one whom she considers as a friend. Hitherto she refused to accept the advice. Perhaps she will now realize that those who have sought to advise here in the past, had her welfare in mind no less than the welfare of the Jews. Perhaps the time has come when Poland will realize the absurdity of cutting the nose to spite the face. If such a thing will happen then Prof. Kemmerer’s visit to Poland will have been of utmost importance both for the future of the country and the welfare of its population and Prof. Kemmerer will have earned the gratitude of both.”
ARGENTINE BARS NORDIES AS “UNDESIRABLE”
The decision of the Argentine government to restrict the immigration of Nordies on the ground that they are “undesirable,” is termed by the “American Israelite” as a challenge to the Nordie.
“A swarthy mass of people from the Argentine, Latins, inferior Latins, challenge the Nordies. Argentine, too, has studied the immigration problems. Argentine, too, desires to admit only the best. Argentine desires to exclude the unfit, the inferior races, and Argentine has decided to exclude the Nordics. Italian, Spanish and French immigrants are to be welcomed. They represent the desirable races, who will produce superb citizens, while the Germans and English, the Nordic races are to be excluded. The worm has turned. No longer are the Nordics the chosen people. In Argentine the Latins have usurped their places. All of which proves that the superior race in every country is the race which can marshal the most votes. Not quality, but quantity is the criterion,” the paper writes.
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