No More Jews Wanted, Say Canadian Papers

Slightly differing in its attitude towards the Jews and anti-Semitism, the French Canadian press in the Province of Quebec is, nevertheless, in complete accord on the question of barring the immigration of German-Jewish refugees into Canada. After the editor of Le Canada, Olivar Asselin, had openly condemned the malignant campaign of the anti-Semitic publications, his sentiments received warm-hearted support from the Quebec L’Evenement, but only as far as a curb on Jewish baiting is concerned. Its underlying implication is “that Canada has enough Jews; it does not need any more parasites”.

Under the heading, Immigration and Anti-Semitism, the Quebec newspaper reveals its policy with the following editorial comment: “We approve wholeheartedly the sentiments expressed by Mr. Olivar Asselin in his courageous open attack on the anti-Semitic campaign that is being waged by certain elements in the Canadian metropolis. This is a violation of Christian charity.” . . .

The newspaper then refers to Dr. Weizmann’s speech before the Refugee Commission at Lausanne in which the latter pointed out the necessity of finding new homes for the persecuted Jews, and having them trained in new vocations, so that they shall never again carry the stigma of a parasitical class. It states that there can be no objection to that part of Dr. Weizmann’s remarks but insofar as Canada is concerned, “we must sternly reject the appeal that the British Dominions receive a number of the victims of the Hitlerist persecutions in Germany. If we have national reasons for opposing any form of immigration at the present moment of acute depression, all the more reason have we to oppose the encouragement of a Jewish immigration into Canada.” The newspaper hints at the same time that Jews create serious problems for any country through congestion in the cities and usurpation of certain commercial branches. Le Canada reprints the above editorial and says that on the question of barring Jewish immigration all French Canadian newspapers are in complete accord.

A voice in defense of the Jew was raised by Canon A. P. Shatford, head of the Protestant Church in the city, who spoke recently before an overflow audience at the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue.

“Persecution in any form is un-Christian,” Canon Shatford stated. “We must acknowledge with shame our blunders and tragic mistakes in having animus against the Jewish people. The Christian church is sensible of the great debt owned to Judaism, for it is a daughter of the Mother Church.”