Schmitt Yields to Nazi Ire Against His Jewish Policy

Minister of Economics Schmitt today invited twenty-one members of the Nazi party to take leading positions in the Ministry of Economics. The action of the minister is attributed to the Nazi campaign now in full swing here to replace “pro-Jewish” officials in the Ministry with fullfledged Nazis.

The appointment of the Nazis will undoubtedly result in the discontinuation of the policy towards Jews in industry, pursued at present by the ministry, since no official will dare any longer suggest measures favorable to the Jews when the penalty will be dismissal from office.

The decision of Minister Schmitt apparently indicates that the leading article in yesterday’s Voelkischer Beobachter, which bluntly told Schmitt to choose between the Jews and the Nazis and attacked him sharply for his leniency toward the Jews, has borne fruit. Schmitt has obviously capitulated and the last stronghold of the old type of industrialist has come within the control of the Nazis.

Minister Schmitt had vainly attempted to stem the tide of Nazi hatred against the Jews in industry. He pretended no love for the Jews, but based his allegedly pro-Jewish measures on the welfare of the German people. However, every measure proposed by Schmitt to ameliorate the lot of the German Jew in industry was sabotaged by the Nazis everywhere in Germany. Local leaders announced openly that the orders of Dr. Schmitt must be ignored because they were pro-Jewish and contrary to the welfare of the German nation. Schmitt was under constant fire in the Nazi press which opposed him at every step.

Dr. Schmitt, in his orders and manifestos, explained repeatedly that he was acting for the benefit of the German people and that the sudden withdrawal of the Jews in commerce and industry would have a ruinous effect on Germany.