Samuel Untermyer, president of the American Non-Sectarian Boycott League and the World Boycott Federation, yesterday criticized the World Jewish Conference at Geneva for assuming the position that the world anti-Nazi boycott is a strictly Jewish action.
Untermyer, both in an interview and in a cable to Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, chairman of the conference, criticized statements at the conference creating a “damaging, misleading world impression” that the texture of the boycott is purely Jewish.
In an interview he explained that it was not correct to have it appear that Jews are responsible for the boycott to the exclusion of Catholics, Protestants and labor unions.
“It is a conflict that concerns all civilization,” Untermyer said.
“It would be unwise for the Jews,” he said, “to assume full responsibility for the boycott. Throughout the world we are only a small percentage of the population. Unless we give other denominations their right to full expression of grievances against Nazi Germany, the boycott will not be effective.
“Jews alone,” he concluded, “can not effectively boycott Germany.”
SENDS CABLE TO WISE
In a cable yesterday to Rabbi Wise, Mr. Untermyer declared:
“As president of the American Non-Sectarian Boycott League and World Boycott Federation organized at Amsterdam last August, I earnestly urge the Conference against creating a damaging, misleading world impression that the boycott is distinctly Jewish.
“It is civilization’s protest and only weapon, regardless of creed.
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.
