The American Scene

American eyes were directed towards Europe in the week just passed to observe a series of developments of importance—Great Britain’s warning to the Reich, the international boycott conference, the Syrian proposals, the Praha disturbances and others. The major developments of the week were on the other side, but several interesting ones took place here.

German hopes of negotiating a barter deal with the United States to provide a market in this country for German manufactures in exchange for German acceptance of 500,000 bales of surplus American cotton were apparently dashed down by a strongly-worded note of protest sent the Reich government by Secretary of State Hull which denounced as “unacceptable and dangerous” the Nazi theory that “debts should be paid only from a direct sale of goods in the creditor country.”

PROBES AND PROBERS

The proposed barter deal was also hit by Francis T. Cole, vice-president of the American Manufacturers Export Association, who pointed out that “buyers feel that they cannot be sure of quality products, or of products manufactured according to specifications in making purchases from the Reich.

The Congressional Committee on un-American Activities, in a thirteen-page report, revealed definitely that over $100,000 had changed hands in the alleged plot for a Fascist coup revealed by General Smedley D. Butler. The report, however, failed to disclose the Nazi-Wall Street links which the committee was known to have under investigation.

The committee also went into the case of Raymond Healey, twenty-two-year-old anti-Semite who began publication of an “Irish” anti-Jewish weekly in Yorkville.

The Deutsche Zeitung, former organ of the Friends of New Germany, converted into a pro-Jewish weekly by suspended sentence of a year hanging over the head of its editor for criminal libel, failed to appear for a second issue following its “conversion.” It is replaced by the Deutscher Beobachter.

ZIONIST AFFAIRS

Louis Lipsky, addressing the Jewish National Fund Council, roundly scored land speculation in Palestine and warned against an attitude of complacence with regard to the country.

Morris Rothenberg, president of the Zionist Organization of America, completed a successful nation-wide swing in behalf of the Zionist membership drive and its fund activities.

Masada, Zionist youth movement, in convention at Philadelphia, heard pleas for strengthening the Zionist ideal among the youth in order to keep them within the fold.

The National Labor Committee for Jewish Workers and Pioneers in Palestine went into convention session Friday evening with over a thousand in attendance.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Rabbis joined with Protestant and Catholic clerics in singing an impressive statement expressing concern over the threat to religious liberty in Mexico revealed by that country’s attitude toward the Catholic Church. The statement was circulated for signatures by the National Conference of Jews and Christians.

Steps to mobilize the Jews of New York City in support of a movement for better motion pictures were announced by M. Maldwin Fertig, president of the Metropolitan League of Jewish Community Associations.

Philanthropic drives throughout the country, notably in New York City, Baltimore and Milwaukee, reported progress in reaching their goals. Support of the communities made itself felt not only in the local organization fund activities but also in the refugee and Palestine aid drives.