Leaders of United Nations Greet Jews on Rosh Hashanah

Loaders of the United Nations in Europe today issued Rosh Hashanah greetings to the Jews through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, all expressing the firm conviction that a liberated Europe will bring an and to the sufferings which the Jews are now undergoing.

President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia, in his greeting, said: “I do not wish to speak of the sufferings which have been undergone by Jews all over the world, and particularly by those who are to-day compelled to live in countries occupied by the bloodthirsty Axis tyrants. All this forms one of the most melancholy chapters in the history of humanity and is a terrible indication of what human beings are capable of when once they become possessed by bestial and materialistic fanaticism.”

“I wish rather to look forward and to send you encouraging words for the future. According to all spiritual, moral and material laws it is impossible that human worth and dignity should be degraded in this way for much longer and that truth and justice should not prevail. The present terrible period is only a bridge to a new one which will bring with it compensation and retribution for the injuries which have been done to innocent people, and especially to Jews, by the wild and insane Nazi system under the direction of its megalomaniac leader. My message to you for the New Year is that you should hold fast to faith in a speedy and victorious termination of this terrible period of human suffering, for the highest meaning and value in life can reside only in belief which is conjoined with strenuous labour.”

Gen. Wladyslaw Sikorski, Polish Premier, stated in his message; “News reaches us daily of the terrible persecutions to which the Jews of Poland are being subjected. Tens of thousands are perishing in the ghettos. Tens of thousands have been massacred by the forces of occupation. We are carrying on this war against the Axis to prevent such crimes being repeated in the future; so that mankind may be released once and for all from the threat of war and assured of a peaceful, dignified life. Poland in accordance with its tradition is taking an active part in this struggle.

“I send my best wishes for the New Year to the Jews throughout the world, expressing my deep faith in the complete victory of the Allies and the ultimate triumph of justice and order over violence.”

Premier Emanuel J. Tsouderous of Greece issued the following greetings: “I gladly avail myself of the opportunity of addressing a message of greeting to world Jewry on the occasion of the Jewish New Year. It is my hope that this coming year may bring to their suffering brothers, victims of the tyranny of mankind’s enemies, the glad tidings of peace and of the end of their tribulations. I feel certain that, in the meantime, the children of Israel who live in free and hospitable countries will devote their whole moral and material resources to the common struggle, as allies of the United Nations, so that the nightmare of Nazism may disappear at the earliest possible moment.”

“There can be no doubt whatever that through the victory of the allied Democratic powers we shall witness a splendid vindication of those values which form the very essence of your civilization. as they do of ours, and which have been the special target of Nazi ferocity. It is equally certain that, when that time comes, the great virtues which have brought fame to your race will again serve to restore it to happiness and prosperity. We Greeks who are attached to liberal ideals, today feel greater sympathy than ever for our Jewish friends, and wish them good fortune.”

Slobodan Yovanovitch, Yugoslav Prime Minister, conveyed the following message: “The Royal Yugoslav Government sympathizes deeply with the sufferings which the Jews had to endure from the Axis powers and their satellites. It is not the first time in history that they are persecuted, but in the long run they always received satisfaction. It is a sincere wish of my colleagues and myself that the end of this war should bring about the end of their persecutions and a just reward for their sufferings.”

Maurice Dejean, Fighting French Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, stated: “On the occasion of the beginning of the Jewish Year I wish to make myself the spokesman of all Fighting Frenchmen and to extend to you their good wishes that this New Year may bring to all the Jews of Europe the end of the persecutions they have to suffer and liberation.

“Faithful to the liberal traditions of France, France also condemns all oppressive measures be they founded on differences of race or religion. She intends to inscribe once more on the frontispiece of the France of tomorrow the words “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” which are the common slogans of the United Nations.”