The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (J.C.B.) will be glad to answer inquiries for further information about any of the news items contained in this Bulletin.
After exhaustive inquiries the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is in position to state authoritatively that Vatican circles deny categorically the recent American report that the Pope considers Russian Jews directly or indirectly responsible for the persecution of Catholic prelates in Russia.
Inquiry as to the authenticity of the report emanating from Rome that “Israelites” have inspired the Soviet attacks on the church was instituted immediately after its publication in the Chicago Tribune on April 15.
A portion of the dispatch received by the Chicago Tribune Foreign News Service and furnished to other newspapers in the United States, is as follows:
“The Pope is considering making an appeal to all civilized nations to compel the Soviet Government to desist in its war against the Christians. A prominent Vatican personage questioned concerning the Pope s attitude, made the following declaration to the ‘Tribune’
“‘It is reported that some Soviet leaders intend to indict the Pope and condomn him. It is the belief of some Soviet leaders that sooner or later Italy will turn Bolshevist and that the Bolsheviki will be able to execute the death sentence against the Christians, especially Catholics’.
“The Pope feels that the inspiration to this war is carried on by Israelites and he requests that the Israelites of the more enlightened counties, such as Italy and America, who live happily side by side with Christians, to use their influence, show their co-religionists the madness of their acts.”
The Pope, it is learned, is uneasy over the recent events in Russia and thinks cooperatives action by representatives of all religions is “necessary and useful” in order to defend religious freedom.
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.
