In 1914 Germany invaded Belgium despite all treaties with the powers of Europe insuring Belgian neutrality. Germany insisted that these treaties were just so many “scraps of paper.”
In 1934 Germany promises to the world that there will be no discrimination against Jews in the 1936 Olympics. This promise is made in the face of all the laws and acts against Jews in sports since Hitler came into power. The Jewish Daily Bulletin, a few weeks ago, published proof of Germany’s actual discriminations. However, at Athens, recently, the International Olympic Committee said that it would accept Germany’s promises in all good faith. In fact, William May Garland, offers the Nazi government a clean bill of health and will do all in his power to persuade Avery Brundage, chairman of the American Olympic Committee, to his way of thinking.
This department is against participation of America in the 1936 Olympics if these international sport games are to be held in Berlin. Despite the assurances of the international group as to Germany’s “bona fide promises,” we are against it because of what has been done to the Jew in sports in Germany since April, 1933.
THE STAND OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS
The American Jewish Congress in a statement issued yesterday over the signature of Bernard S. Deutsch, president, expresses disapproval of the whitewashing of the Nazi government in Germany by William May Garland.
The statement points to the fact that “despite the decision of the International Olympic Committee that Germany has kept her pledges regarding Jews in the Olympics, there seems to be general skepticism in many countries of the world.” This is clearly indicated in the fact that many Olympic committees throughout the world are still deferring formal acceptance of Germany’s invitation to participate.
“There are a number of issues involved in the Olympic Games. Germany has not up until the meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Athens, kept its promises. This violation is clearly indicated in the laws passed prior and subsequent to the pledge of last June, of which the I. O. C. was informed by the American Jewish Committee (a list of the laws was published in the Jewish Daily Bulletin sport column on Wednesday, June 6. Ed. note).
ON WHAT DOES GARLAND BASE HIS CONCLUSIONS?
“Is Mr. Garland, or the I. O. C. in whole or in part, ready to ignore the last year’s events in Germany? The Aryan law which bars Jews from every field of endeavor in Germany is still the basic law of the land. Has there been a revolution in Germany? For nothing less than a revolution and the downfall of the Hitler government can bring about a reversal of policy.
“Has Mr. Garland or nay other member of the International Olympic Committee queried whether the decrees barring Jews from sports beginning last April and continuing until the Spring in 1934, have ever been rescinded?
“We too, have read that Jews### to be permitted to compete ### the Olympics. But WE ARE ### MISLED. We believe with ### Gustavus Kirby that it is not ### for Germany to say that ### will have no official decree to ### effect that the teams of Germany must not have thereon Jews. ### all know that the proof of every pudding is not what it looks like, but the eating thereof.”
The Bulletin heartily approves of this statement by the American Jewish Congress and will continue its campaign against American participation in the Berlin Games in 1936. More than that, it will try to align the sports writers of the nation in an attempt to prevent such participation in face of the present facts.
THE ALL-STAR BASEBALL GAME
The baseball game on July 10, between the stars of the American league and the National league, looks like a complete sellout. Bill Terry and Joe Cronin have been appointed managers of the two teams and their selection sets a precedent for future years. The managers of the teams that play in the world series one year will be the rulers of the all-star combinations the following season.
Terry showed his stuff to Joe Cronin during the series last October when he had the New York Giants on the field with him. However, Cronin, backed by the American league’s champions, will try to avenge last year’s defeat.
MACCABI MOVES
Nathan Goldstein, president of the United States Maccabi Association, sailed Saturday for an extended stay in Europe. He will call upon Lord Melchett, head of the International Maccabi World Union to formulate plans for the American Maccabi’s entertainment in Europe next March.
The American team, after three weeks of competition in Palestine, will tour the chief cities on the continent in a wide athletic swing that will bring them up against the leading sport units of Europe.
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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.
