Roosevelt. Stimson, Halifax Greet Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Its 25th Anniversary

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a message from the White House, today paid special tribute to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in connection with its twenty-fifth anniversary as the only press agency covering news of Jewish interest in all parts of the world. Similar messages were also sent by high ranking Washington officials and by Lord Halifax, the British Ambassador.

Addressed to Mr. Jacob Blaustein, chairman of the Board of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the President’s message read:

“Please accept hearty congratulations on the completion of twenty-five years of news-gathering by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Incorporated. I trust through long decades to come that this medium of information will serve the world with fidelity and courage by the widest possible dissemination of the truth.”

Secretary Stimson, in his message to Mr. Blaustein, said: “I am very glad to send through you to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc., my congratulations on its twenty-fifth anniversary. This organisation has made a valuable contribution to the free flow of accurate news throughout the world. I hope you will extend to the Agency my best wishes for continued success in this work.”

Lord Halifax, pointing to the Jewish situation in the world today stated: “I congratulate the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on completing 25 years of service to truth in the interests of democracy and of the Jewish people. This has been for Jews more then for most others a period of resurgent hope and of bitter tragedy too. Let us resolve that the next quarter century shall see a system firmly founded on our victory which will ensure justice for all peoples. I know that those whose business it is to collect and publish news are well aware of the great responsibility that rests on them in a world where rumors travel with the speed of light. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency I am confident will maintain its own high standards and I wish it all success.”

IMPORTANCE OF JTA IN PRESENT EMERGENCY EMPHASIZED BY MACLEISH

Archibald Macleish, Director of the Office of Facts and Figures in Washington, in his massage of congratulations, emphasized the importance of the JTA at the present time. “I was extremely interested to learn from your letter that the Jewish Telegraphic

Lowell Mellet, Director of the Office of Government Reports, in congratulating the JTA on its anniversary, stressed the responsibility with which the organization is carrying out its important task. “I have observed the manner in which this agency has sought to operate with real responsibility in a very difficult news field and my impression has long been that you have done a successful job,” the message reads. “If there has been at any time a temptation to substitute fiction for fact I believe consistent readers will testify that your Agency has not succumbed to the temptation. It has done good work and I trust it may long continue.”

Benjamin V. Cohen, National Power Policy Committee, describing the JTA activities as “yeoman’s service in the democratic cause,” wrote: “It is a pleasure to congratulate the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on its Twenty-Fifth Anniversary. The Agency has, I think, performed a genuine and distinctive service in disseminating speedily and accurately news relating to Jews and the Jewish problem throughout the world. Since anti-Semitism has become inextricably interwoven with fascism, a service such as yours, dedicated to the truthful interpretation of Jewish life and events, does yeoman’s service in the democratic cause.”