of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to help expose and counteract Fascism, Hitlerism and Anti-Semitism anywhere in the United States. There is no more room for Hitlerism and Fascism in our country than Communism.
“I agree with you that Nazi propaganda should be nipped in the bud and exposed by Congress and by individuals before the brown shirts, black shirts and a variety of other shirts shall attempt to undermine our Government and control our free institutions. The time may soon come when it will be necessary for those of us who believe in our Republican form of Government and the liberties guaranteed to us by the Constitution to unite forces in defense of our personal and political rights and liberties as American citizens against those groups advocating some foreign from of dictatorship in the United States, whether by Brown Shirts, Black Shirts or Red Shirts.
“Assuring you of my cooperation, and with kind regards,
“Sincerely yours,
“Hamilton Fish, Jr.”
CHALLENGE AMERICAN JEWRY
Meanwhile, cloaking their operations in the shroud of respectability of the Sons of the American Revolution, and marching under the guise of congressional support, the “American Section of the International Committee to Combat the World Menace of Communism” issued a challenge to American Jewry and all Americans opposed to granting license to subversive Fascist elements in the United States.
“Communism in Germany”, a volume printed in Germany, containing a veiled attack on world Jewry, and now being distributed widely throughout the United States by Nazi supporters, presents one of the boldest attempts on the part of Adolf Hitler to gain influence among Americans. Through its attacks on Communism it takes advantage of every opportunity to present the “red menace” to the world as a Jewish threat against civilization.
The book, under the subscription of well known Americans, attempts to align patriotic citizens and officials under its banner of racial and political intolerance.
WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION
The Jewish Daily Bulletin learns that at least one of the subscribed names, that of Mr. Fish, has been used without authorization. Mr. Fish, on the flyleaf of the volume, is presented as a member of the American Section of the International Committee to Combat the World Menace of Communism.
Mr. Fish told the Jewish Daily Bulletin, “I have glanced over the book, ‘Communism in Germany,’ but I am certain that at no time have I aligned myself with any movement it might represent.”
The committee gives its address as the offices occupied by the Sons of the American Revolution at the Hotel Lexington. Officials of the Sons of the American Revolution Friday declared they know “absolutely nothing about the workings or personnel of the American Section of the International Committee to Combat the World Menace of Communism.” They said that Mrs. Ralph Easley of 277 Park Avenue had requested the favor of receiving mail through that address and that permission was granted.
THE EASLEYS AT WORK
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Easley maintain offices at the National Civic Federation at 270 Lexington Avenue.
In an interview with the Jewish Daily Bulletin yesterday Mrs. Easley refused to disclose the membership list of the “Executive Committee” of the “American Section of the International Committee to Combat the World Menace of Communism.”
On a printed form handed the reporter, ostensibly for distribution among newspaper editors here, to stir interest in the book, “Communism in Germany”, Ralph M. Easley had affixed his signature as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
The letter also listed the following as members of the Advisory Committee: Hamilton Fish, Jr. (formerly Chairman of the Congressional Committee to Investigate Activities and Propaganda of the Communists in the U. S.), Garrison, N. Y.
Walter C. Cole (chairman, Council of National Defense, Detroit Board of Commerce), Detroit, Mich.
Brig. Gen. John Ross Delafield (Commander-in-Chief, Military Order of the World War), New York.
Ralph M. Easley (Politico-Economic writer), New York.
Elon Huntington Hooker (chairman, American Defense Society), New York.
F. O. Johnson (President, Better American Federation), Los Angeles.
Lt. Col. Orvel Johnson (R.O.T.C. Association of the United States), Washington, D. C.
Harry A. Jung (American Vigilant Intelligence Federation), Chicago.
Samuel McRoberts (Banker), New York.
C. G. Norman (Chairman, Building Trades Employers’ Association), New York.
Ellis Searles (Editor, The United Mine Worker), Indianapolis.
Walter S. Steele (National Republic), Washington, D. C.
Archibald E. Stevenson (formerly Counsel, New York State Committee Investigating Seditious Activities), New Canaan, Conn.
Captain John B. Trevor (former President, American Coalition of Patriotic Societies), Washington, D. C.
FREE DISTRIBUTION
When asked the source of the book, “Communism in Germany”, Mrs. Easley would only admit that it was written by the German writer, Dr. Adolf Ehrt, and printed in Germany.
Regarding distribution agencies in the United States Mrs. Easley refused to commit herself other than to say that her “committee” was bringing the books in from Germany and distributing them free of charge to all parts of the country.
When asked whether or not George Sylvester Viereck, well-known pro-German propagandist, was not taking part in this work of distribution, Mrs. Easley admitted that a number of copies of the book had been turned over to him.
A reporter for the Jewish Daily Bulletin, visiting the Viereck offices a few days earlier, had discovered stacks of the book on the shelves of Mr. Viereck.
At the same time, Mr. Viereck admitted that he is writing a book in defense of the Nazi government and extolling Adolf Hitler.
SAW NO JEW BAITING
For further information, Mrs. Easley referred the reporter to her husband. No definite appointment could be made for an interview with the chairman of the “Executive Committee”, however.
Representative Fish, in denying that he had taken any part in the distribution of the book or that he had subscribed his name either to the book or the American Section of the International Committee to Combat the World Menace of Communism, the name of which he had never heard, stated, “I have seen the book. It was sent to me by Mr. Easley with the compliments of the writer, Adolf Ehrt.
“I have merely glanced through its pages, and until the matter was brought to my attention at this moment, I had failed to see anti-Semitic passages in it,” he said.
“If it contains any reflection on the Jews, or if it appears to attack the Jews because they are Jews, I am only too glad to repudiate such parts.”
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.
