Widespread remonstrance against the statement of Dean Henry Wyman Holmes, of the Harvard University School of Education, who went on record recently as approving Hitlerism in Germany, received utterance in The Boston Traveler here in a scathing editorial criticizing Dean Holmes.
Echoing the aroused sentiment against the Dean’s statement in the Jewish community, The Traveler aims a verbal tirade at Dean Holmes who admittedly overlooked Germany in his recent visit abroad.
“How Dean Holmes can see in this picture that Germany. ‘has regained self-respect’ is beyond our comprehension,” says The Traveler. “Perhaps he views the German trend with a minimum of scrutiny of the Jewish angle.”
The editorial goes on to say that “governmental ostracism of a race that has been a part of the nation for centuries is out of step with the progress of mankind, particularly that portion of mankind which professes to believe in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.”
The Boston Jewish Advocate in a bitterly denunciatory editorial, scores Dean Holmes for his attitude. Dean. Holmes’ statement reported in local press notices, is as follows:
“I have a very different view of Hitlerism since I went abroad. I think now that it is something that Germany needed, and it may turn out well. I was not in Germany, but I formed my opinion from what I heard in France, and from the antagonistic attitude of the French, which I did not like, and also from talking with people on the voyage home.
“The French want war. I do not suppose that is the view of the government, but it is my impression that many of the French people want it. I think that the reports of Hitler’s oppression of the Jews have been exaggerated. Some action may have been necessary. The main thing is that Germany, which has been fighting against tremendous odds imposed on her by the Versailles treaty, has regained selfrespect, unity and confidence.”
It is reported that the American Jewish Congress is planning concerted and vigorous action in severely reprimanding Dean Holmes.
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.
