Unreasoning Prejudice in South Africa Against Jews Seem by Jewish by Member of Parliament: Says Quot

The unreasoning prejudice existing in South Africa against Jews was criticised by Mr. Robinson, M.P., in an address delivered at a luncheon given by the Maccabean Guild here to-day.

To all practical purposes, he said, the Jews have equal opportunities and privileges with their Christian fellow citizens, but the Quota Immigration Restriction. Act will always be a source of trouble.

Mr. Robinson pointed to the extreme difficulty encountered by Jews in trying to obtain admission to social and athletic clubs in Durban.

I should be very sorry to see a law passing a stigma upon any of our people, General Smuts, the South African ex-Premier and leader of the South African Party, said speaking in the South African Parliament during the debate on the immigration quota restriction law. The South African Party’s action in voting for the bill means no more than agreeing that some form of restriction of immigration is necessary, General Smuts declared. But he deprecated the method of the bill, he said, as invidious and illiberal and undoubtedly aimed at a certain section of the people. They may be unpopular, he went on, but they are our own people, and they have done their share, and perhaps more than their share in the past. It ill becomes us, a young people who owe so much to every section of the White Races in South Africa and which has preached universal friendship and equality to single out one section and say – we have had enough of you. We want Nordics.

Mr. Morris Kentridge, one of the Jewish members of the South African Parliament, said that he resented the suggestion that had been made that the Jews have a standard of sivilisation Jower than that of any other South Africans. He reminded the Prime Minister, General Hertzog, of the eulogistic remarks which he had made about the Jews at the dinner given to Mr. Reuben Brainin when he had said that “the Jew had played a role in South Africa second to none of the great sections of the people and had left his mark on all branches of activity, as he had done in every country of the world through his industry, capacity and loyalty.

Mr. C. P. Robinson, tec, is one of the five Jewish members of the South African Parliament. Like the othe Jewish members he protested at the time against the Immigration Restriction Law, which came into force last May.