In a cynical attempt to refute the statements made by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, here, upon his return from the world Jewish conference at Geneva, the German Consul General L. Kempf, declared, “we have heard such generalities and atrocity stories months ago and learned from foreign correspondents in Germany that most of the stories are propaganda.”
In the reply to Rabbi Wise published in yesterday’s Montreal Gazette, the consul alleged that Rabbi Wise is unaware of the facts, because his information was gained from the “mouths of the refugees” and not from a visit to Germany.
After making a complete denial of any persecution of German Jews, and stating that the majority of the Jews still continue to live and do business in Germany, Kempf contradicted himself by enumerating the categories of Jews against whom the reaction is directed.
He declared that the Germans are against Jews with Communistic tendencies, East European Jews and Jews who acquired a dominating position in German life. “They became dominating and were successful in inculcating Jewish views and mentality in the German mind, hence the slogan, ‘Germany for the Germans’,” he said.
The consul also questioned Rabbi Wise’s praise for public opinion in Anglo-Saxon countries, which he declared are “sympathetic to the Jews but are not ready to receive them as immigrants.”
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.
