Increase in Racial Tension Reported by Dr. Slawson; N.c.r.a.c. Extends Its Activities

There has been an increase in all forms of racial tension in the United States, it was reported here by Dr. John Slawson, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, addressing the opening session of a three-day plenary meeting of the National Community Relations Advisory Council held during the weekend.

Ascribing this increase to the economic and social dislocations of a wartime economy, Dr. Slawson said that there has been an increase in anti-Negroism and anti-Catholicism as well as anti-Semitism. Fear of more stringent government prosecution during wartime has, however, resulted in a decrease in the number of active anti-Semitic organizations and professional anti-Semites. He warned that the insecurity and frustrations of large masses of people that may develop in the post-war period is unquestionably a threat to be guarded against.

Further progress in achieving coordination of activities and common planning by the national Jewish defense agencies and the eighteen local community relations groups was insured by a program of organization adopted unanimously by the National Community Relations Advisory Council at the three-day gathering. The program was urged by David Sher, NCRAC chairman, who was re-elected with the entire group of officers who have guided the organization since its inception a year ago. The plan of organization adopted includes the following specific recommendations:

1. The creation of standing committees of the NCRAC in such fields as mass approach, class approach, interfaith cooperation, overt anti-Semitism, economic discrimination and other fields that come within the scope of the civic protective agencies. The purpose of these standing committees in various fields of civic protective action will be to subject the programs and policies of the national agencies and the local community relations groups to examination, criticism and suggestion to the and that uniform policies and practices will emerge to guide all activities in this important area of work.

2. The functions of the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations dealing with Employment Discrimination in War Industries will be “transferred to the NCRAC and a permanent committee of the NCRAC, with a professional staff member, be established for formulation of policy in the field of employment discrimination.” The resolution formally accomplishing the transfer of the functions of the Coordinating Committee further declares that “the implementation of the activities in this field are to be carried into action by one or more of the agency members under the direction and supervision of the NCRAC, or by the NCRAC itself as the committee shall from time to time determine.”

Isaich Minkoff, executive director of the NCRAC, will become vice-chairman of the organization and serve as a professional assistant to Mr. Sher. An executive director will be engaged to administer the new program. The budget of the NCRAC will be materially increased to allow for adequate staffing of the organization.

JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH GROUPS WILL FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM IN POLITICS

The meeting adopted a resolution deploring the injection into the last presidential campaign of charges and counter-charges implicit with anti-Semitism; and applauding the conduct of the leaders of both major political parties in repudiating this issue. “The NCRAC and its constituents will seek to join forces with other Jewish and non-Jewish national bodies in condemning the un-American practices of injecting bigotry into the political affairs of this nation and its communities, and in educate the public and all political parties to that and.” the resolution said.

The NCRAC also decided to establish a permanent committee “to conduct a study and evaluation of non-sectarian agencies dealing with group tensions, the resulting reports to be regularly made available to community groups and national agencies.” It also decided “to consult with the Synagogue Council of America with a view to exploring the entire problem of religious education in the public schools and arriving at a common policy.”

Mr. Minkoff opened the three-day conference with a report outlining the actions taken by the staff and executive committee during the four-month interval between the recent session and the previous plenary session held in September. He reported that “The NCRAC has now established a direct and organic contact with the communities which has been instrumental in keeping the Jewish communities alert to the changing situation developing from time to time.” He also reported that the NCRAC had been active in striving toward the achievement of federal and state Fair Employment Practice Commissions, and that its chairman, Mr. Sher, had testified before the New York State hearings.