Ambassador Arthur Gardner, U.S. envoy to Cuba, denied today having made anti-Semitic remarks attributed to him by a New York daily newspaper columnist. Writing to Henry Edward Schultz, national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Mr. Gardner declared that “a perfectly innocent reference to the Jewish people (was) made by me over two months ago at a St. Andrew’s dinner (and was) torn out of context and its meaning so twisted as to attribute to me anti-Semitic feelings completely foreign to my nature.”
“I count among my very warmest friends many of Jewish birth, and have the most profound admiration for the philosophy, morals, and ideals the Jews have given to the development of our great country,” the Ambassador wrote. “I am only too aware of the tremendous contributions the Jews have made – from 1776 to Korea – to the defense of our nation.
“Let me assure you that anti-Semitism has no place in my scale of values. I am keenly sensitive to my function as a representative of all the American people, regardless of race and religion. To do less than carry out that function fully would run counter to the principles that have constantly been my guide.”
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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.
