Argentine Jews are anxiously waiting to see whether the followers of Col. Juan Peron, whose election as President will be officially announced tomorrow, will mark the day by indulging in anti-Jewish excesses.
Liberal elements believe that the conduct of the police, if anti-Jewish outbreaks occur, will be an indication of what policy the Peron administration plans to adopt towards the section of its supporters which is avowedly and violently anti-Semitic.
The pro-Peron Labor Party, as well as the Union Civics Radical and the Junta Renovadora, which also supported Col. Peron in the elections, include persons who are sharply divided concerning their attitude towards Jews. The best illustration, perhaps, is the fact that S, Gay, former president of the Labor Party, has been secretary of the Committee Against Anti-Semitism and Racialism, while Dr. Ernesto Palecio, who heads the party’s list of deputies is a known anti-Semite.
Delegates of the Labor Party, in a tour of the Jewish colonies in Entre Rios province shortly before the elections, urged the colonists to vote for Peron indicating that that was the only way in which they could prove that Jews are not opposed to him. Contrary to all expectations, Peron received a majority of votes in the province which was believed to be overwhelmingly anti-Peron. However, Peron’s opponent, Jose Tamborini, carried the Jewish sections of Buenos Aires.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.