It is gratifying to see that the Greek government has rescinded the special order issued a few weeks ago prohibiting foreign Jews to enter Greece unless by special permission from Athens.
This order, it now turns out, has not only provoked protests on the part of the Jews abroad but has actually resulted in damaging Greek business interests, especially the tourist trade. Premier Tsaldaris, in receiving a Jewish delegation, did not hesitate to admit that this is the case.
The Jews abroad are well aware of the friendly attitude of the present Greek government towards the Jewish population in Greece. The recent anti-Semitic statements of ex-Premier Venizelos have only served to strengthen Jewish sentiment in favor of the present regime in Greece, which is opposing the anti-Semitic attempts of the Venizelist party.
It was therefore an unpleasant surprise for the Jews abroad to see that even the present government had suddenly issued a discriminatory order against Jews. This order was all the more shocking because it affected foreign Jews.
The step taken now by the Greek government to partly rescind the restrictions imposed by the new order will therefore be received by Jewish public opinion abroad as the best proof that the Tsaldaris government deserves the sympathies which the Jews maintain towards it.
It is naturally regrettable that the discriminatory order has not been fully rescinded and that Polish and German Jews are still barred from entering Greece. It is, however, to be hoped that remaining restrictions will also be removed soon. The Jews of the world have faith in the Tsaldaris cabinet even though it submitted to British pressure in issuing an anti-Jewish order.
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.
