Governor Guy B. Clark of Missouri and Mayor Bernard Dickmann of St. Louis were conspicuous by their absence from the opening of the national Saengerfest, German music festival, which started today at the St. Louis Arena.
A huge swastika draped the box occupied by the German Ambassador, Dr. Hans Luther. The Nazi emblem caused hundreds to protest violently against the injection of racial issues.
Officials of the Saengerfest declared the swastika emblem had been placed there only at the request of Dr. Luther and insisted they had nothing to do with the action.
Dr. Walter Damrosch, dean of American musicians, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency he deeply regretted the note of dissension sounded by the German ambassador. However, he categorically denied he had at first refused to conduct the Saengerfest. He declared in strong terms that the Nazi emblem had no place at the celebration.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
