Declaring that “the anti-Jewish legacy of the Nazis remains intact in North Africa,” and that 330,000 Jews there are still the victims of Nazi laws, the American Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress joined in a statement today asking for immediate action to implement the declaration of President Roosevelt calling for the abrogation of all laws and decrees inspired by Nazi governments or Nazi ideologists.”
Recalling that three months have elapsed since the military occupation of North Africa by troops of the United Nations under American command, the organizations pointed out that while “grudging concessions have been made” no changes “of an important character have been made in the political and economic situation.” They emphasize that they have remained silent during the past months because “we have appreciated to the full the difficulties, military and otherwise, of the situation, and because we wish to avoid saying anything which might embarrass those who share the burden of responsibility.”
This policy of silence,” the statement says, “can no longer be maintained since it has become clear that the principles of human rights and democracy have been suspended, if not waived, in North Africa. It is impossible for us by our silence to appear to acquiesce in this policy, which by implication denies the principles upon which these United States were founded, and in defense of which we have accepted the Nazi challenge.”
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