Eight major Jewish organizations, in combination with a number of other liberal, labor, welfare and religious organizations, today urged President Truman to veto the anti-subversive bill (H.R. 9490) reported out by a Congressional Conference Committee on the grounds that this legislation represents “the use of totalitarian methods to fight totalitarian dangers.”
In a telegram to the President, the organizations said: “We feel as you do that the bill jeopardizes the rights of individuals and organizations which not only are not subversive but are dedicated in principle and program to the fight against Communism. We feel as you do that this bill is a violation of traditional American guarantees of individual freedom.”
Declaring that the Communist threat can be “adequately dealt with by strengthening of espionage and other genuine security laws,” the organizations urged the President to issue a “stinging” veto message which might help to “restore those liberties which already are being violated in all too many communities in our great country.” Jewish organizations which signed the statement were: American Jewish Committee; American Jewish Congress; Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith; Jewish Labor Committee; Jewish War Veterans of U.S.A.; National Community Relations Advisory Council; National Council of Jewish Women; and Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
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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.
