The Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith has to-day declared its attitude in regard to the present Jewish situation in Germany in connection with the presidential elections in an official communique, declaring that the safety of the Jewish population is assured only if Hindenburg is re-elected.
The German Jews are convinced of President Hindenburg’s victory, the statement proceeds, and if President Hindenburg is re-elected there is no danger of any anti-Jewish outbreaks. General Groener, the Minister of the Interior and of Defence, has repeatedly given assurances that the Roichswohr and the police are absolutely trustworthy, and ready to suppress any move that may be made against the Constitution.
The Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith, the communique concludes, does not in principle desire any intervention to be made by foreign Governments in internal German political affairs.
It has always been the policy of the Board of Jewish Deputies not to intervene in matters affecting Jews in other countries, except at the special request of those communities, the President of the Board, Mr. O. E. d’Avigdor Goldsmid, declared at a meeting of the Board of Jewish Deputies held in October, when Mr. Samuel Finburgh, former Conservative member of Parliament for Salford, urged the sending of a communication to President Hindenburg “to strengthen his hand against Hitler”. Mr. Finburgh claimed that an expression of Jewish opinion in this country would do a great deal of good.
The Board adopted a resolution in this connection expressing its deep sympathy with the victims of the anti-Jewish outbreak in Berlin on the Jewish New Year, and its satisfaction with the prompt measures which were taken by the authorities for the prevention of further disorders.
In a similar way, when the question of the anti-Jewish student disturbances in Poland came under discussion at a meeting of the Board of Jewish Deputies held in November Mr. d’Avigdor Goldsmid said that the Jewish Community in Poland had a certain pride and had not asked for any representations to be made in England. We have the greatest possible regret at the outbreak of these disturbances, he said, and we trust that the Polish Government will suppress them and restore law and order.
Mr. B. S. Straus, speaking at the same meeting on behalf of the Joint Foreign Committee, also pointed out that it is the policy of the Board not to take action unless the foreign Community concerned specifically asked for it.
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