Jewish circles were disturbed today by a new report in the Berliner Tageblatt that a law was in preparation to “dispossess” certain elements of the population of their real estate in accordance with “the interests of the State.” Reports of such a law have been circulated on previous occasions.
The report did not disclose details of the projected law, but it was assumed some time would elapse before its promulgation.
Reports reaching Berlin stated Jews in provincial towns were selling out their holdings for small sums. In cities like Berlin and Frankfort-on-the-Main, however, Jews are holding their property, being impelled by these considerations:
1. Converting property into cash, they would face classification as “suspected emigres” and might be forced to deposit 25 per cent of their capital as security for the “flight tax.”
2. Buildings are one of the few sources of income left to them.
3. Economic pressure against them is not yet as strong in Berlin and other large cities as in the provinces.
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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.
