German Boycott of World’s Fair Seen As Possibility

The possibility that Germany might boycott the New York World’s Fair, at which Mayor LaGuardia suggested Hitler’s figure be exhibited in a “chamber of horrors,” appeared stronger today after German officials had failed to attend a dinner to consular officers of foreign nations given by Grover A. Whalen, the fair’s president.

Harry H. Schaffer, of Pittsburgh, commander-in-chief of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, telegraphed Secretary of State Cordell Hull asking him to “protest in concrete form” Nazi press attacks by withdrawing the invitation to the Reich to participate in the fair.

Newspaper comment varied on the State Department’s representations to Germany. The New York Post asked “Why Argue with Crackpots?” but added: “We are glad he (Secretary Hull) is making this protest. It will at least put Berlin in its place.” The New York World-Telegram said Germany “should now apologize in turn, or else appear in the role of would-be bully and boor.” The Sun saw as “the most unfortunate result of this affair” that “it leads to fresh reprisals against the Jews in Germany.”

As regards the fair, the New York Daily News said in a recent editorial: “We don’t like to seem inhospitable, and the World’s Fair is supposed to be a big, good-natured get-together of everybody from everywhere; but we can’t see why the Hitler Government should want to be represented at the fair.”

The News pointed out the Nazis would have to breathe the same air as Jews, that Jews and Negroes might sabotage swastika-covered exhibits and “German representatives at the World’s Fair would be most uncomfortable.”