State Department “careful” in Efforts on Behalf of Egyptian Jewry

Egypt moved against its Jewish population to confiscate assets because of Egypt’s desperate financial situation, a State Department source suggested today.

Government officials reported that the United States is carrying on efforts behind the scenes through diplomatic channels on behalf of Egyptian Jewry. The Department is presumably seeking to ascertain the facts of the situation in Egypt and register concern over anti-Jewish measures.

Last week State Department spokesman Lincoln White denied that official U.S. representations have been made. However, sources in the Department said the United States is undertaking to aid Jews in Egypt but wishes to avoid giving any offense to Egypt. It is felt that such careful handling of the situation is necessary in the best interest of the potential victims.

Commenting on the Egyptian denial that “no Egyptian citizen” because of religion has been expelled or dismissed from his job, the Washington Post and Times-Herald pointed out the deception in the Egyptian statement. In an editorial, the paper said that only 10 percent of the Jews in Egypt are Egyptian citizens and more than half of the Jewish population are stateless and unable to obtain citizenship because of “administrative obstructions.” The paper called the Egyptian move against Jews “altogether Hitlerian in concept and in scale.”