Protesting the “warped and bigoted” anti-Semitic speech delivered recently by Edwin Wright, a high official in the State Department, the American Jewish Congress yesterday appealed to the Department “publicly to repudiate his statements.” The AJC also called for “the removal of Mr. Wright from any position of influence or authority within the State Department.”
A similar demand was made last week by the Agudath Israel of America in letters addressed to President Eisenhower and to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
In a letter to Herbert Hoover, Jr. Acting Secretary of State, Judge Justine Wise Polier, chairman of the American Jewish Congress executive committee, deplored the “incredible” anti-Jewish remarks made by Mr. Wright, Assistant Dean of the Foreign Service Institute of the State Department, in a speech delivered at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington on November 1.
The U.S. Department of State, Judge Polier’s letter to Mr. Hoover said, “is under an obligation to rectify the wrong that has been done and not only to disclaim and disassociate itself from Mr. Wright’s remarks, but publicly to repudiate his statements in a manner that will make it unmistakable that they have no place in American public life and play no role in the determination of American policy. This should be followed by the removal of Mr. Wright from any position of influence or authority within the State Department.”
The Agudath Israel letter stated: “It is unthinkable that a government official should permit himself to so callously malign the millions of American citizens of the Orthodox Jewish faith, who have made their productive contribution to every phase of American life. The glorious service to the weal of mankind rendered by American citizens who observe the traditional Jewish religion, and their loyalty to our beloved country, is a matter of public record. Their religious faith has often been the source of inspiration that enables these American Jews to develop their manifold contributions for the betterment of society.”
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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.
