Mexican Jews Complain Against Nazi-fostered Anti-semitic Propaganda

Charges that the Jews in Mexico are being made the victims of anti-Semitic propaganda spread throughout that country by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi agents were made in a letter received by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency yesterday from the Jewish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mexico City. During the last week, the letter stated, Mexican newspapers have printed articles calling Jews “an undesirable element” and asserting that not only have they declared a boycott against Germany but also against Mexican merchants who deal with Germany.

The Israelite Chamber of Commerce denied that it declared a boycott against Mexican firms dealing with Germany, but admitted that while Jews did business with these firms they refrained from buying German articles which some of these firms sold.

“As a matter of fact,” the letter stated, “Jewish merchants in Mexico do not deal with Mexican importers because the articles they (the Jewish merchants) need were always sold mostly by German firms in Mexico. The danger for us Jews is that all this propaganda, which is well paid for, can make an impression on the Mexican government and Mexican public opinion.”

SEEK TO CLOSE CHAMBER

The letter stated that certain elements in Mexico, inspired by Nazi agents, had demanded from the authorities the closing of the Jewish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, arguing that there is no reason why the chamber should exist since, they say, it is no more than a religious sect. Nazi-paid agents, the letter declared, had also demanded that the Jewish Chamber be expelled from the Mexican Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, to which it belongs.

The Confederation of Chambers of Commerce has asked the Jewish Chamber to instruct its members to end the anti-German boycott because “it is not compatible with the hospitality Jews enjoy in Mexico.” The Jewish Chamber replied to the Confederation in a letter, pointing out that it was impossible to accede to this request.

WILL CONTINUE BOYCOTT

Listing all the anti-Jewish deeds perpetrated by the Nazis in Germany, the Jewish Chamber concluded that until such a time as Hitler would publicly announce a change of heart regarding Judaism the boycott in Mexico would continue. The Jewish Chamber, however, pointed out clearly that Mexican firms dealing in non-German products would in no way be affected by this decision.

The receipt of the letter from the Jewish Chamber follows a report cabled to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency yesterday that Walter Zechlin, German minister to Mexico, had formally protested to the government against the anti-German boycott. Herr Zechlin contended that the action of the Israelite Chamber violated the sovereignty of the Mexican government. The boycott is estimated to have caused a ten percent decrease in German trade throughout Mexico within the last three months.