A significant statement condemning Adolf Hitler’s anti-Jewish program in Germany and strongly rebuking the present German government for its policy of persecution of the Jews was broadcast yesterday over the Italian government-controlled broadcasting system.
While no authorship has been ascribed to the statement, political circles here were quick to express their belief that Mussolini himself had prepared the statement and ordered its broadcast.
Mussolini, in his capacity as head of the Italian government, has repeatedly declared that Germany’s anti-Jewish policy is a most severe injustice, the broadcast statement asserted, since it heaps on the Jewish minority the responsibility for all the misery in Germany and makes the Jews scapegoats for all Germany’s misfortunes.
The broadcast emphasized the fact that the Jews of Italy enjoy full equality and rights possessed by other Italian citizens.
“Italy,” it was stated, “has never known anti-Semitism nor practiced any prejudice toward the Jews because the Jews have proven ardent and loyal subjects, occupying, therefore, high posts in the state services and in the army.
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