A tribute to the many good qualities of the Jewish people, which, he said, justify them in their claim to a land of their own, was paid to-day by Inspector-General Nicolic, when he spoke as the representative of the Prime Minister, General Zivkovic, and the Foreign Minister, M. Marinkovic, who is the Rapportour on mandates to the League of Nations Council, at a big festival gathering held here by the Jugo-Slavian Jewish National Fund Curatorium in honour of the inscription of the names of the Premier and the Foreign Minister in the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund.
To-day’s ceremony, he went on, is a proof of the noble feelings and the gratitude of the Jews. The attitude adopted by teh Jugo-Slavian Government towards the Jews, he continued, is in accordance with the high intentions of King Alexander, who wishes all citizens of the country to have just and equal treatment.
Your cause is just, he concluded, amidst cheers, and therefore you have found the support of the Jugo-Slavian Government.
Delegations were present on behalf of all the Jewish organisations in Belgrade and the Jewish communities in the provinces, headed by the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Alkalay, and other leaders of Jewish life in the country. Delegations also came from the various Jugo-Slavian partiotic organisations.
Dr. David Alkalay, the chairman of the Jugo-Slavian Zionist Organisation, was in the chair.
The Jugo-Slavian people has always been distinguished by its friendship for the Jews, Dr. Albala, the Chairman of the Jewish National Fund here, said. Having suffered for years themselves under the foreign yoke, they can understand the position of the Jewish people. The Serbian Government was the first Government, which after Great Britain herself recognised 1917 the right of the Jews to Palestine. Every Jugo-Slavian Government since has expressed its sympathy with the Zionist ideals. Jugo-Slavia, he declared, might well serve as an example for many a greater State in the love and understanding which it has for its non-Slavic citizens. That is why Jugo-Slavia is held in high honour by the Jews of the entire world, and the inscription of the names of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister in the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund in an expression of the esteem of world Jewry for their country.
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