In spite of Sir Oswald Mosley’s avowal of his belief that the Jewish people are “as a class hostile to us,” the British Fascist leader has been identified with the Jewish people and “is in fact supported by Jews.”
This is the assertion of Julius Streicher, editor of the violently anti-Semitic Stuermer and Nazi chief in Franconia, according to an article in the Manchester Guardian here.
Streicher takes issue with Mosley whom he labels as a false prophet of the Fascist movement because of his lukewarm stand on the Jewish question. The British Union of Fascists, according to the Streicher newspaper, “will be dealt with thoroughly by us,” warns Streicher, who has ignored Mosley’s hostile words uttered at a meeting of his party Sunday night.
But–and this is the unusual part of the story–a special notice printed in bold face type in a subsequent issue by the Stuermer reads as follows:
“In the last issue of the Stuermer an article appeared in which it was stated that the Mosley movement was a Jewish catch up movement. This statement was made as the result of an editorial error. The Mosley movement has given our representative (Beauftragte von uns) an opportunity of convincing themselves that this is not the case. We are now glad to be able to state that this movement does not stand in the service of Jewry. On the contrary, it is furiously combated by Jewry and thereby proves that it is anti-Semitic.”
The article is signed by Holz, editor.
DR. JEKYL, MR. HYDE
The Manchester Guardian comments sardonically that the Mosley outfit is attempting to spread the belief in England that it is not anti-Semitic, while in Germany a contrary impression is willfully created.
Mr. Thomas, deputy director of policy of the British Union of Fascists, on enquiry by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, said:
“The Stuermer has, on several occasions, accused us of having Jews in high official capacities in our organization and of being run by Jewish money.
“We protested that this was not the case, and accordingly received an apology. That is the cause of this correction which the Manchester Guardian shows.
“I consider it rather far-fetched on the part of the Manchester Guardian to draw the conclusion that we are anti-Semitic. It is one thing to repudiate the statement that we are run by Jews, and a different thing to say we are anti-Semitic.
“I agree that the last comment in the Stuermer (that the organization proves it is anti-Semitic) did not come from us, is entirely of German origin and is unjustified.
“We have not changed our policy. We do not take up a racial attitude, although we have had difficulties with the Jewish community on one or two matters, notably the boycott of German goods.”
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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.
