(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the infamous falsification of the anti-Semitic international long proven a forgery and discarded, are now being published in the Greek press, giving great concern to the Jewish community and causing wide agitation in the country.
The republication of the protocols was started by “Macedonia,” the organ of the followers of Venizelos, Republicans. The royalist organ “Phos,” immediately followed suit and published the protocols.
The Kehillah of Salonica immediately submitted a protest to the editor of “Macedonia” and to the Governor General Calevras. The editor of “Macedonia” explained that he undertook the publication of the protocols not for anti-Semitic reasons. He is rulling, he stated, to publish a refutation of the protocols. The editor of the “Phos” also explained that he published the protocols for competitive reasons and is prepared to allow space for the Jewish point of view.
Another question that now agitates the Jewish community in Greece is the disclosure made by the newspaper “Rizostatis,” a Communist organ. The paper published a report revealing that Prefect Djanetos, in a confidential report to the Governor General of Thrace, demanded that Jews, Turks and Armenians be expelled from the Evrou frontier district. Jews, Turks and Armenians, even when they are Greek subjects, should be prohibited from travelling in this district, he demanded.
Upon publication of this report, the Salonica Kehillah telegraphed to Athens asking whether it was authentic. No denial, however, was issued.
Monteche Bessantchi, Jewish deputy from Salonica, then raised the question in parliament. “The prefect of Evrou demands the expulsion of Jews for the purpose of combatting Communism. All agree in the necessity of combatting Communism but what the prefect demands is the persecution of Jews,” he declared.
Minister of the Interior promised to investigate the matter and invited the deputy to a further discussion on the subject.
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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.
