House of Lords Expresses Keen Sympathy with German Jewry

A demonstration of sympathy with the situation of the Jews in Germany was evoked in the House of Lords yesterday, when Lord Reading, who declared he was “speaking both as a Lord and a Jew,” called on the British Government to convey to the German Government the deep feelings of the British public regarding the threat to the economic and political status of German Jewry.

Lord Reading was preceded by Lord Cecil of Chelwood, who introduced the subject into the House of Lords, declaring that he desired to direct attention to the reports of outrage and persecution inflicted on the Jewish community in Germany. He wished to know whether the British Government had any information regarding the subject. It was admitted, he said, that in Germany there had been wholesale dismissals of Jewish judges, doctors, and members of other professions. This course of action had been justified by the German Government on the ground that something in the nature of a boycott had been organized against German trade abroad and that the Governments of the countries affected had done nothing to end it.

Lord Cecil declared that the German situation had become a matter of international concern, and that the events there had caused a great deal of anxiety also to hundreds of thousands of Jews in England, who were among the most orderly and peaceful of citizens. Moreover, he pressed that Britain as Mandatory for Palestine, had a special interest in the fortunes and misfortunes of the Jews, irrespective of whether she could do anything in the matter. He concluded with a request to the Government for a reassurance that some definite step would be taken.

Lord Reading, who followed, said it was impossible for him, as a member of the Jewish community, to refrain from adding his appeal to the Government to do all possible to represent the views held by a majority of the people of England. My sole desire in intervening, he said, is to point out the difficulties confronting the Jewish community in Germany, particularly in relation to the educated, intelligent and professional classes. Usually, in per iods of difficulty, Jews were attacked as speculators or financiers, but the attack planned to open next Saturday was directed against professors of universities, judges, lawyers and doctors. They were discriminated against solely because they were Jews. “I desire to impress upon the Government, while realizing the difficult situation in dealing with the matter,” said Lord Reading, “that it is open to them to use such legitimate means in their power as would acquaint Germany with the opinion of the British people regarding the matter. I find it impossible,” he concluded, “knowing what is happening in Germany, and realizing that discrimination is being practised against men and women, who are Jews, merely because they are Jews, not to give expression to my views both as a member of the House of Lords and of the Jewish community.”

The Earl of Iddesleigh, who said he was speaking as a Roman Catholic, associated himself with Lord Reading’s remark. He added, “The Catholics throughout the world deeply sympathize with the victims of the movement in Germany, which is so widely condemned.”

Support was also forthcoming from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the titular head of the Church of England, who said that Lord Reading’s address had touched the hearts of the Members of the House. He expressed the earnest trust that the Government would be able to give an assurance that it was doing everything possible to express the concern of the people of England with the German Jewish community, and not least among them, those who were animated with feelings of sincere friendship towards Germany.

Lord Hailsham, Secretary of State for War, who replied for the Government, said that he did not think that it was in the interests of the Jews themselves that the suggestion should be made that the British Government should conceive itself as “clothed with authority to intervene on behalf of German Jewry”.

At this point, Lord Reading interrupted in order to deny that any suggestion to that effect had been made. What he meant was that the views held by a majority of the British people might be conveyed in some unofficial form.

Lord Hailsham agreed that Lord Reading’s suggestion was a more effective means of expressing the British view, a view largely held by the British people. He declared that any interference in the treatment of German citizens might be regarded as unwarrantable and might do more harm than good. “It is a mistake to suppose,” he added, “that the United States Government made any such representations”. He agreed, however, that the situation had obviously aroused deep feeling. The German Government had had a long time for reestablishing itself, and he expressed the hope that it would allow nothing to happen in Germany which might confirm the anxieties expressed by the House of Lords. He also informed the House that there had been Ambassadorial conversations which were of a reassuring nature.