Members of Congress today found in their mail a letter from the Friends of New Germany inviting each Congressman to attend “a mass meeting of protest” against the boycott on German imports scheduled to be held at Madison Square Garden, New York, May 17. The letter, signed in an illegible signature without designation of title, was mailed from New York on April 28. The letterhead proclaimed the name of the organization and indicated that the national headquarters of the Friends of New Germany is located at 308 East 86th street, New York.
The text of the letter is as follows:
“We believe that you are interested in the intense feeling that has sprung up in the hearts and minds of a very large portion of the American Citizens of German origin, due to the extraordinary activities emanating from certain sources.
“A very appreciable number of such citizens have come to the belief that the boycott in German Imports is only a part of the program which seeks to damage the rights and interests of American citizens of German blood who have become naturalized and also born American citizens of German ancestry.
“Personal experiences during the course of their daily lives has convinced such citizens that there is a very determined effort to humiliate and degrade them in the eyes of the country. They resent this very much and therefore appeal to you to give some thought and consideration to their situation.
“We feel that you are interested in the welfare of all your constituents. Therefore those of German origin among them are naturally interested in having you give some of your valuable time to the study of their interests and feelings.
“On Thursday, May 17, 1934, a mass meeting of protest will be held at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
“You are cordially invited to attend this meeting so that you can learn by actual contact how strong and to what a large extent the feeling of American citizens of German origin has grown.
“Your attendance is requested and will be appreciated.
“Your personal preference whether you wish to attend as an announced guest or unannounced and unknown among the audience will be respected.
“The important thing is that you attend so that you can appreciate our side of the question.”
Officials at Madison Square Garden told the Jewish Daily Bulletin yesterday that the hall was rented by the Friends of New Germany for the night of May 17.
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.
