Without trace of possible protest the German Day celebration, once suspended by the mayor because it was believed that its sponsors, the United German Societies, had sought to make the affair an occasion for the dissemination of Nazi propaganda, will be held tonight at the Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Steuben Society.
From German sources of information it is learned that successful attempts had been made by the United German Societies to dictate the program of tonight’s celebration to the Steuben Society.
An exchange of letters between Fritz Gissibl, acting national leader of the League of Friends of New Germany, Hitlerite body in the United States, and the guiding genius of ill fated plans laid by the United German Societies for the suspended celebration, and the Steuben Society head, indicates that the Steuben Society has granted virtually every demand made by the Nazi group in their conduct of the program.
In a letter to Theodore Hoffman, chairman of the Steuben Society committee for the affair, Mr. Gissibl demanded: that Hans Luther, German ambassador to the United States, be invited to address the celebrants; that “the official German flag, naturally the swastika, decorate the rostrum and the room”; that the person speaking in English prosecute an energetic protest against the curtailment of freedom of speech (apparently in reference to the mayor’s suspension of first plans for the celebration); that an appeal be made for a united German front to fight the boycott of German goods in this country; that assurances be given that neither of the Ridder brothers, publishers of the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, be invited to speak at the celebration; and that the League of Friends of New Germany will be welcome to celebrate under the swastika.
In reply, Mr. Hoffman called to Mr. Gissibl’s attention the fact that the Steuben Society had planned the German Day celebration in harmony with the traditions of the occasion in the spirit of a patriotic American organization. He invited the League of Friends of New Germany, as one organization of the United German Societies, to attend the affair.
Although he asserted that the Steuben Society could not allow the character of the meeting to be planned by any body other than its sponsors, Mr. Hoffman thus far has granted every demand of the Friends of New Germany capable of fulfillment before the celebration.
The ambassador has been invited; the swastika will be on display; the League of Friends of New Germany have been invited; the Ridder brothers have not been invited to speak; and no indication has been given that the “suppression of freedom of speech” and anti-German boycott will not be protested by speakers.
At meetings called by the Steuben Society for consideration of plans for the fest, closed to reporters and all outside the body to discuss the plans, large numbers of members of the United German Societies and League of Friends of New Germany have been in attendance. It is understood that they have dominated the proceedings at these gatherings.
With the list of speakers for the occasion strategically bolstered by a number of American government officials to prevent protest against Nazi features of the program, Dr. Hans Luther, German ambassador to the United States, will deliver a message from the Hitler Government.
Other speakers will be; Hon. Daniel C. Roper, United States Secretary of Commerce; General J. F. Preston, representing the War Department; Prof. Arthur F. J. Remy, from the Columbia University faculty; Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard; and Theodore H. Hoffman, representing the Steuben Society of America.
Gustave W. M. Wieboldt will preside over the occasion.
Police Commissioner Bolan yesterday assigned a large police guard to posts both inside and outside the Madison Square Garden to insure peace. A large patrol of mounted police will clear all streets for a block on either side of the Garden, and only persons attending the affair will be allowed to penetrate the cordon.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
