An appeal to Upper Silesia to have patience until 1937, when the minorities agreement expires, was made yesterday by the Nazi lawyer Blauer, in the course of a speech delivered to a Nazi educational group at Oppeln, Upper Silesia.
Blauer told the assembled Nazis that, unfortunately, the Geneva agreement must be observed, but “our hands are tied only for a few years, then the Jews will learn that they cannot force our hands.”
Upper Silesia is a plebiscite area under the direct jurisdiction of the League of Nations and when the Nazis introduced anti-Jewish legislation and acts into Upper Silesia, a petition for protection of his rights was presented to the League, bearing the name of Franz Bernheim, a Jewish refugee from Upper Silesia. The League decided after hearing the arguments that the Nazis must accord the Jews minority rights in Upper Silesia.
The Hitlerites accepted the verdict of the League and promised to follow the orders of the League. However, there have been several instances of anti-Jewish acts, each of which was promptly followed by an apology from the Nazi authorities.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.