Fading Optimism

It was expected that after the Saar is returned to Germany certain modifications would be made by the Nazi government as far as anti-Jewish legislation is concerned. Hopes were expressed by optimistic Jews in Germany that “things will somewhat change for the Jews” after the Saar plebiscite.

This optimism is now fading away. Not only does the Nazi government not think of alleviating the condition of German Jews, but on the contrary everything points to the fact that the movement to push the Jews out of commerce is acquiring a new impetus among the Nazi leaders.

The efforts which Julius Streicher has made in Munich to stimulate the anti-Jewish boycott along the same lines as in the early days of the Nazi regime are not a mere incident. Herr Streicher is now being followed in his campaign by Dr. Ley, the leader of the German Labor Front and dictator over all the employers and employes in Germany.

Dr. Ley, in special instructions, recommends the boycott of Jewish shops and urges patronizing only those enterprises which carry the signs: “This is a German firm.”

It is true that the large masses of the German people are not antagonistic toward Jewish-owned stores. It is also true that a person like Dr. Schacht may be of the opinion that the boycott of Jewish stores is but harming the German economic system. The rulers in Germany today are, however, fanatics and not ones to look more soberly at matters.

The renewal of the anti-Jewish boycott is indicative. It shows that the wind now blowing from the “Brown House” is definitely against Jewish trading. It warns against optimism with regard to the Jewish situation in the Reich. It illustrates that Streicher and his company feel that their side is now much stronger than the side of those in the Nazi ranks preaching a more tolerant attitude towards the Jews.

The renewal of the anti-Jewish boycott is clearly a warning to those Jews abroad who have begun to believe that everything is becoming normal in Germany.