The Jewish question is playing a certain part in the present considerations for the formation of a new party to support the von Papen Government.
The question is whether Jews should or should not be accepted as members of this new party. The Stahlhelm organization of German ex-soldiers, which is to form the backbone of this party, has had several Jews among its founders. Later the policy conducted by the Stahlhelm forced these Jews to resign from the organization and Jewish members have not since been admitted.
A direct anti-Semitic policy is, however, not carried on by the Stahlhelm, and friendly relations are maintained with the Union of Jewish Ex-Soldiers in Germany.
In spite of the revelation that Colonel Duesterberg, the present leader of the Stahlhelm, is of Jewish descent, the Stahlhelm leaders do not desire Jews to be admitted to the new party, wishing to avoid the risk of being denounced by the National Socialists as a “Jewish Party.”
At the same time, it is not desired that racial purity as preached by the National Socialists should become the principle also of this new party. Endeavors are being made, therefore, to keep this delicate question of Jewish participation in the background. This may not, however, be possible, since the new party, when actually formed, will have to face the question of the enrolment of Jews in the organization. A number of Conservative Jews, and particularly the Union of National German Jews, are already taking a lively interest in the proposed new organization.
The von Papen Government has so far not expressed itself in any way on the Jewish question, apart from the statement on behalf of President von Hindenburg to the Central Union of German Citizens of Jewish Faith, which was issued after the von Papen Government was formed.
It is thought, nevertheless, that the majority of the Jews in Germany would prefer the von Papen Government to remain in power rather than see a coalition Government materialize between Herr Hitler and Dr. Bruening.
Herr von Papen has never shown himself to be an anti-Semite. Several years ago, when he was President of the League for the Protection of German Culture Against Bolshevism, he invited a representative of the Jewish religion to participate in a mass meeting held in the Berlin Sports Palace to protest against the persecution of religion in Russia.
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.
