Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does indicate approval.–Editor.]

The successful conclusion of the New York drive for the United Palestine Appeal is regarded by the “Day” of April 21, as especially noteworthy in view of the exceptional difficulties which confronted the Palestine Appeal campaign.

“The campaign took place in a trying time,” the paper asserts. “The campaign leadership was isolated both from the left and the right. The ultra-orthodox jumped at an unhappy expression of Dr. Wise and freed themselves from the work. The Reform Jews did likewise: they too jumped at words and threw the responsibility to Palestine off their shoulders.

“And yet, in spite of all this, the campaign was a success. The drive in New York this year was more successful than last year–more successful by a sum of $600,000. This was due of course not to the attitude of the two wings referred to but to the unity of all Zionist funds. Whereas last year, when each fund had its own drive, the total for all of them combined reached only about $800,000, this year’s total is $1,400,000. This is a colossal sum under any circumstances. Under the circumstances of this year it acquires a much bigger importance and significance.”

“WORLD” CORRESPONDENT SEES POLISH GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF AGREEMENT

Whether the Polish-Jewish Agreement is to remain a dead letter or be converted into a vital factor for bettering the Jewish situation and improving the relations between Poles and Jews, is entirely up to the Polish government, according to the special correspondent of the New York “World.” Writing from Warsaw under date of April 1 the correspondent outlines the circumstances which led to the Polish-Jewish Agreement and observes (“The World,” April 18):

“To the Polish Government it meant nothing else than a declaration of a new nationalistic policy comparable only to the new economic policy of Lenin in Russia. Next to this the greatest achievement of the ‘Jewish Polish Locarno’ up till now is the abatement of the daily barrage of anti-Semitic propaganda in the Polish press. To be sure, one finds enough of anti-Semitic agitation in the Polish newspapers even now, but anti-Semitism has at least ceased to be the only feature of Polish journalism.

“Apart from this change of general tone, however, the Government has so far done but little to justify the expectations and even the promises of the Understanding. It granted to the Jews certain small concessions, chiefly relating to Jewish religious life, but it did nothing as yet as far as the abolition of the economic discriminations of the Jews in Poland is concerned, which have always been the chief subject of Jewish complaint.

“This has quite naturally led to dissatisfaction and to a growing suspicion in certain Jewish circles that the Understanding is not the result of a sincere change of heart on the part of the Government toward the Jews, but that it is only another mode of propaganda devised by the Government to white wash its name abroad in order to obtain a foreign loan more easily. These suspicions, aggravated by sufferings resulting from an economic catastrophe the like of which Poland has never seen yet, are chiefly responsible for the crisis which has arisen now, and which has nearly wrecked the entire interesting political experiment.”

Describing the economic crisis in Poland the “World” correspondent emphasizes that “in the midst of these sufferings the Government does not cease to differentiate between Jews and Poles,” and concludes thus:

“The fate of the ‘Understanding’ now lies with the Polish Government. It can make of it what it pleases: an interesting curiosity, or a strong moral force in the relationship between Jews and Poles, as well as a guide for the treatment of other minority problems in Europe.”

JEWISH COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES

A benefit performance in aid of the Eldridge Street Nursery and Orphans Home for Girls will be held at Kessler’s Second Avenue Theater. New York, Saturday night April 24th.

The Nursery, at 227 Eldridge Street, was founded in 1919, and has until now provided for younger children only. The need for a home to house orphan girls has led to the enlargement of purpose of the institution, and funds realized at the benefit will go towards this purpose.

The inter-State conference of the National Council of Jewish Women of Connecticut and Rhode Island sections was held in Bridgeport, Conn.