European Jewish Leaders Pessimistic on Effectiveness of Christian-jewish Councils

Jewish leaders in various countries of Europe are pessimistic concerning the effectiveness of inter-religious groups to eradicate anti-Semitism, Dr. Everett Clinchy, president of the American National Conference of Christians and Jews, declared here today at a press conference. Nevertheless, Christian and Jewish leaders are going ahead with plans to set up in the near future local Christian-Jewish councils in 18 cities in Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Switzerland and Italy, he said.

Dr. Clinchy, who just returned here from a five-week tour of the Continent, said that Jewish leaders in Munich and Amsterdam held out least hope for success of the inter-religious projects for eliminating race hatred and prejudice. He said that anti-Semitism is widespread in Germany, adding that the Jewish DP’s should be given the opportunity of going to Palestine. He also asserted that an increasing minority of the Jews believe their future may lie in Europe.

Fascist activity in Lancashire county, where the most violent anti-Jewish riots occurred last summer during the wave of anti-Semitic incidents, has become more feverish and open recently, it is reported here today. Apparently various fascist fringe groups are in the process of uniting in order to push a large-scale anti-Jewish program and in preparation for the expected formation of a national fascist body under Sir Oswald Mosley, pre-war fascist leader, who several weeks ago made his first public address since he was interned in the early days of World War II.

It is known that Raven Thomson, former deputy leader of the British Union of Fascists, who has been acting as liaison among the various groups, held a meeting in Manchester this week in an attempt to reconcile differences among them.