German Actors’ Association Protests Against Prohibition of Jewish Actors on German Stage

The Executive of the. All-German Actors’ Association has issued a statement protesting against the decision adopted by the Prussian Parliament during the Sunday all-night session, that Jews are not to be employed on the Prussian State Theatres.

The Conference of Actors’ Federations in Germany, which is opening to-day in Berlin, is also taking up the matter.

The protest of the Actors’ Association follows on the action of the Administration of the Prussian State Theatres yesterday ordering the dismissal of all Jewish actors, carrying out the resolution adopted by the Prussian Parliament.

The Nazi motion adopted at Sunday night’s sitting of the Prussian Parliament may be ignored by the Prussian Government in charge of administration, says the “Montag Morgen”, but from all one hears the General Superintendent of the State Theatres, Herr von Tietjen, has not waited for the resolution to carry this Nazi principle into effect.

He scented what was coming and he anticipated it.

Except for Eleonore von Mendelssohn, who has been engaged on the express demand of that all-powerful actor, Werner Krauss, and the producer, Professor Leopold Jessner, who is in a process of gradual removal, there are no more Jews employed in the Prussian State Theatres.

There is, of course, no ground for saying that it is not accidental. It must suffice that this is the position. Contracts with Jews are not renewed. Jews have not been engaged by other theatres in Berlin, or in State Theatres in other parts of Germany, except for the two people we have mentioned.

The Nazi era is beginning in the State Theatres. It can only be Lack of knowledge of the facts that has started the false rumour that to carry out such a resolution it will be necessary to change the Superintendent.