(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The Jewish population of Tangiers set forth its objections to being considered and treated as African “natives” in an appeal submitted to the International Conference which is now in session here to regulate the status of Tangiers.
The conference was called as a result of the representations of the Governments of the United States and Italy, who declined to recognize Tangiers because of their objections to its statutes.
In a memorandum to the Alliance Israelite Universelle and the Anglo-Jewish Association the leaders of the Jewish community in Tangiers asked these bodies to support their appeal to the conference. The Jewish population in Tangiers numbers 50,000, ten thousand of whom occupy an important position in the trade and commerce of the country.
The Jews object to being treated like natives. The appeal demands reforms in the administration of justice. According to the present statute, it is impossible to appeal against a court judgment. The Jewish leaders demand that in cases of litigation involving more than 5,000 francs or in trials of criminal charges, an appeal court be established.
When a Jew appears before a native court, the judge is assisted by a Jewish associate judge who is chosen at random and is not compensated. The appeal demands that in every native court a permanent Jewish associate judge be appointed and that he receive remuneration.
According to the present statute, if a Moroccan appears before a mixed court which is competent to render judgment in cases where a foreigner is involved, the Moroccan may choose as the associate judge a Frenchman, Spaniard or an Englishman. The appeal of the Trangiers Jewish community demands that if a Jew is accused of a criminal offence, the presiding judge should always be Jewish and that the associate judge be Moroccan.
Nathan Kollin, chairman of the Committee on Religious Observance of the Young People’s League of the United Synagogue of America, announced the subjects for the Israel Friedlander Essay Contests. The next contest will be on the following subjects: The Role of the Synagogue in Present Day Jewish Life: The Relation between the Synagogue and the Family: The Synagogue as an Historical Factor in the Development of Jewish Consciousness.
The three prizes offered for the best essay submitted are books of Jewish interest, in the amounts of $25 for the first, $15 for the second and $10 for the third prize.
The contest is open to all Jewish young men and women eighteen years and over, who reside in the United States or Canada.
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