Leaders of Portuguese Jewry have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Dr. Oliverira Salazar expressing surprise at the sudden growth of anti-Semitism in Portugal. Declaring Portuguese Jews had been considered loyal citizens for generations, the memorandum urged Dr.Salazar to intervene in their behalf.
The memorandum protested especially against anti-Jewish propaganda in the press and at public meetings, attributing it to “odious propaganda of foreign origin which aims to disturb the harmony existing between Jews and others in Portugal.”
Stating all Portuguese Jews were religious, the leaders charged the propaganda was malicious because it aimed to confuse Judaism with Communism, since the religious Jew could not be a Communist.
“At a moment when all right thinking Portuguese feel the need of working together for the common good of their country,” the memorandum stated, “it is imperative that the Jews be enabled to perform their loyal duty without loss of dignity.”
The sudden appearance of anti-Semitism in Portugal, is unjustified the memorandum contended, since the Jews have always enjoyed the friendliest relation with other parts of the population.
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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.
