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 not indicate approval–Editor.]

Praise for William Culbertson, American ambassador in Roumania, for his friendly attitude toward the Jews and especially for his prompt action in interceding with the Roumanian government for the release of Jacob Landau, director of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the “Jewish Daily Bulletin”, when he was arrested recently on his arrival at the Roumanian port, is contained in an interview with Samuel C. Lamport appearing in the May 25 issue of the “Pariser Haint”, Jewish daily of Paris. Mr. Lamport gave the interview when he was in Paris on the way back from his Palestine and Europe trip, in the course of which he had attended the economic conference at Geneva as a delegate of the United States government. He was present at the time Mr. Landau was arrested by the Roumanian officials and he immediately took the matter up with Ambassador Culbertson, who secured Mr. Landau’s release. That part of the interview which relates to this matter, reads:

“Arriving in Europe from Palestine, Mr. Lamport was present in Constanza, the Roumanian port, witnessing the arrest of Mr. Landau, director of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Mr. Lamport protested in the strongest terms to the Constanza authorities, but he left at once for Bucharest to see the American ambassador, William Culbertson, one of the finest and most learned personalities in the diplomatic circles of America, and author of the well known book on Alexander Hamilton, which at the time evoked such high praise from Theodore Roosevelt. As has been reported he secured Mr. Landau’s release. But the matter has not ended there. A thorough investigation of the incident is now under way.

“The action of Mr. Culbertson, Mr. Lamport stated, affirmed once more that he is the ideal example of what American diplomacy is and can be. The arrest of the head of a well known Jewish institution in America, on no ground except that he is a Jew, despite the fact that he was in possession of an American passport, could not but call forth a vigorous and sharp protest from such a statesman as Mr. Culbertson.”

VISCOUNT CASTLEROSSE’S INVITATION TO AMERICAN JEWS

The invitation to emigrate to England extended to American Jews by Viscount Castlerosse, through the columns of the “London Sunday Express”, is viewed as amusing but meaningless. by Jacob Fishman (the “Jewish Morning Journal”), who declares it is a strange proposal, coming from a member of the Irish race, who are known for their sense of humor. Writing in the May 30th issue, Mr. Fishman observes:

“The question is: Who are the American Jews the Viscount is so eager to have in England? These are the very immigrants whom England long ago excluded from her shores. We still remember how England appointed Royal Commissioners in order to defend herself from the few Jewisn immigrants, and in consequence of that England’s doors were closed to Jewish immigrants a quarter of a century before America’s. Today some immigrants are still allowed to ented the United States while practically none are admitted to England and Home Secretary Joynson-Hicks would like very much to deport the few ‘aliens’ now in England.

“Hence it would appear that the Jews whom the Viscount desires are those who have attained material success in America. To which we can reply: Let the Viscount have no worries about these Jews; they are comfortable in America.

“And as regards anti-Semitism the good Viscount is very sadly in error. We here in America have the impression that England is far from being free from anti-Semitism. In England, on the other hand, there is a good deal of talk lately regarding anti-Semitism in America. It is possible that in each country there is some exaggeration regarding anti-Semitism in the other. One thing is certain, anyway, and that is that American Jews have not yet reached the point where they need to flee and that England does not hold out such wonderful attractions as to lure them.”