The Week in Review

An extremely important concession to German Jews anxious to escape from the Third Reich was announced this week by the Nazi government. According to a circular issued by the Bureau of Financial Affairs in Berlin aimed to facilitate the exodus of Jews, the Nazi government will permit Jews to export their capital in cash providing they leave 26 per cent. of their capital behind. Up to now emigrants have been permitted to take with them only 10,000 marks in cash. The Nazis added that “non-Aryans” taking advantage of this offer may never return to the doubtful blessings of Hitlerism. “Aryans” who leave now may negotiate with the German government for their return. . . .

. . . A new citizenship law for Jews, which may be in effect by Easter, was revealed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The proposed law would restrict full citizenship rights for Jews to those who can prove beyond a doubt that their ancestors lived in Germany in 1800. The year 1800 was chosen because at that time the German Jews received their present family names. While there are no exact figures available, it is thought that less than half of the 600,000 Geeman Jews can qualify under the proposed law. The unfortunates who cannot, for one reason or another, prove that their ancestors lived in Germany on the date set by the authorities will be reduced to an inferior status without political rights. . . . Ever since the Nazi regime came into power, the Jews of Germany have been waiting in fear and trembling to learn their fate at the hands of the Nazis. They have seen numerous proposals restricting their citizenship introduced, all with some official standing, only to see the proposals shelved. However, experience with the working of Nazi legislation suggests that even under the newly proposed citizenship law, so much latitude is given the authorities that no Jew is safe. The burden of proof rests upon the Jews, acceptance of the proof rests with Nazi officials. . . . A savage sentence of twenty-two months in jail was passed upon a Jewish musical student for having “prepared for high treason.” Last March he is alleged to have been on the verge of sending Socialist literature to fifteen men in the regular German army. . . .

. . . A split threatens the hard-won unity of German Jewry. The All German Jewish Representative Body, central German Jewish organization, which speaks for the German Jews, is under fire from the Agudath Israel, orthodox Jewish group, and the Ex-Soldiers Federation. Both groups have grievances against the central body and are said to be threatening to withdraw. The Representative Body announced that it would not permit a split and appealed for maintenance of unity. . . . The long-awaited attack on the German B’nai B’rith began this week in Germany. Lodges in various German cities were raided by the authorities and Dr. Benno Walter, vice-president of the German B’nai B’rith, was arrested by the secret police and held incommunicado.

AUSTRIA

The Jews of Austria, caught in the horrible predicament of supporting the legalized gradual anti-Semitism of the Dollfus regime or of facing an Austrian Nazi triumph with all its implications, also are waiting to learn their fate. In the meantime, the air is filled with rumors of a Hapsburg restoration, an agreement with the German Nazis, restrictions against the Jews, troop movements and internal dissensions in the Dollfuss cabinet. The Chancellor keeps on repeating that the Jews have nothing to fear, but a definite campaign against the Jews of Austria has begun with the Christian Socialsts taking the lead. At the moment, the Austrian Jewish doctors re bearing the brunt of the attack. On the basis of a stupid lie, a number of state-employed Jewish doctors were dismissed from their posts and others told that their contracts would not be renewed. Hundreds of Jewish doctors face dismissal. Indications are that the Jewish lawyers will bear the brunt of the next attack.

PALESTINE

The Arlosoroff hearing finally ended. Aba Achimeier, Zvi Rosenblatt and Abraham Stavsky were committed to stand trial for premeditated murder. The penalty on conviction is death. . . . Shortage of labor in Palestine necessitated the mobilization of city workers and even school children to pick the bumper orange crop, which was in danger of rotting on the trees. . . . Clashes continue between the laborites and Revisionist workers. In Hedera fourteen were arrested as the result of a building dispute. The magistrate who heard the case announced that he would impose severe penalties in an effort to stop the brawls.

POLAND

The new economic law, which requires licenses and definite educational qualifications for all engaged in industry, was passed by the Sejm. Only one amendment, exempting all those already engaged in industry and commerce from the workings of the bill, was passed. An amendment postponing the effectiveness of the bill for three years was rejected. Instead, the bill empowered the Minister of Commerce to set the date himself. . . . Polish Jewry is tremendously aroused against the bill and is apprehensive that it spells the economic ruin of the already impoverished Jews of Poland. . . . More than 75,000 Jews, one-fourth of the Warsaw Jewish population, are in dire need of Passover relief, it was announced. . . . Endek members of the Sejm and Senate continue their attacks on Polish Jews demanding severe restrictions. Sir Austen Chamberlain, noted British statesman, denounced the Nazi regime at a dinner in his honor at the Anglo-Palestine Club. Sir Austen declared that the world was with the Jews. He appealed to Germany not to impoverish the Jews in the interests of Germany itself. . . . Former Prime Minister Lloyd George praised Hitler, in an article, as “the only statesman in Europe keeping his head.” He also declared that the persecution of the Jews in Germany is subsiding.

THE REST OF EUROPE

Holland announced that German Jewish youths ousted from agricultural training will be permitted to receive such training on Dutch farms. . . . Floods in the Rumanian province of Moldavia left many Jews homeless. . . . Four prominent Italian Jews were made members of the Italian parliament by the Fascist Supreme Council. . . .

THE UNITED STATES

Adolf Hitler was placed on trial in New York before the bar of public opinion. Noted Americans from every walk of life indicted him for having committed a crime against civilization in his persecution of the Jews, in his suppression of the liberties of the German people, and because his regime menaces the peace of the world. Over 22,000 people crowded into Madison Square Garden to witness the trial. . . . Attempts made by Dr. Hans Luther, German Ambassador, to have the United States government halt the trial proved unavailing. He was informed by the State Department that such action would be contrary to American policy of free speech. . . . The Dickstein bill calling for a wide investigation of Nazi propaganda activities in the United States was unanimously reported to the House by the Committee on Rules. Senator Alfred M. Cohen, international president of the B’nai B’rith, denounced the attack on the German B’nai B’rith as an “exhibition of wanton senseless cruelty.”