The annual procession of Vienna Zionists to Herzl’s grave, which had become a tradition, has had to be abandoned this year. The political circumstances in Austria, the fight between the Government and the Nazis have made a Jewish manifestation in Vienna impossible. The Government has forbidden all demonstrations by parties opposed to the state. This was aimed mainly against the Nazis and Communists, but curiously enough it has been applied against the Jews, though they all stand behind the Government, and are helping it with all the means in their power in its fight against National Socialism. But the Government is afraid of provoking the anti-Semites, and therefore all Jewish demonstrations are banned.
But this is not the only reason for the abandonment of this year’s procession. The other reason is that it is feared in Zionist circles that it might not go off peacefully. There is a danger of attacks by the Nazi terroristic organization, the more so as the cemetery is in the heart of one of the most anti-Semitic quarters of Vienna. Even in previous years, there had been many unpleasant incidents, though the streets were flanked with police, and the Nazis had undertaken to leave the procession alone. For the last few months inspired and encouraged by the Nazi regime in Germany, their newspapers have been saying that henceforth no Jewish demonstrations would be allowed in “German” Vienna. If the Zionists were serious about emigrating to a national state of their own, let them take the remains of their dead leader there….”In German Vienna there is no place for acts symbolizing the Jewish hegemony in the world under the leadership of the ‘Elders of Zion’.”
Some Jewish student organizations protested against submitting to the Nazi terror, and organized a “walk” to the grave of the founder of modern Zionism. The other Zionists intend organizing a procession in September or October after the Congress, in order not to interrupt this annual act of piety, for which even delegates from other countries come to Vienna.
Vienna Zionists are doing their best faithfully to carry out this holy duty that has been entrusted to them by the Jewish nation, but political circumstances are making this more and more difficult for them. The Zionist Organization must take into account the danger that the day may come when Herzl’s remains will be in the keeping of a Nazi Government. It is impossible to leave so holy a relic of the Jewish nation in such hands. It is essential that the World Zionist Congress should not merely pass pious resolutions, but make arrangements for transporting Herzl’s remains to Palestine—and soon.
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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.
