Fascist newspapers today seized upon the creation in New York of an American Jewish Federation to Combat Communism and Fascism and the discovery of an anti-fascist conspiracy in Italy allegedly headed by Jews to justify the need for more drastic measures against Italian Jews.
“The declaration of war by the New York league might have grave consequences for the Jews on our soil,” declared Giornale d’Italia, Government organ, recalling Premier Benito Mussolini’s warning in Trieste on Sept. 18 that Italy’s conduct toward its Jews would depend on the conduct of enemies of Fascism abroad.
(The federation was incorporated by a group of Jewish war veterans with national headquarters in New York. one of its founders, Milton Solomon, former Kings County Commander of the American Legion, said that 99 per cent of the Jews in the United States “are loyal Americans and as much opposed to Communism as to Fascism in any of its pernicious forms.”) Charging that the Jews arrested in an alleged anti-Fascist plot were especially culpable because their activities were begun before the new racial program had been introduced, Giornale d’Italia declared anti-Semitic discrimination was absolutely necessary. Lavoro Fascists asserted that “fascism will end by treating the Jews as foreigners and enemies of Italy.”
a sensation was created when Prof. Nicola Pende, one of the original 10 Fascist professors who had signed the racial doctrine, vigorously protested against going to “extremes” in carrying out the doctrine. Prof. Pene’s protest, directed chiefly against proposed compulsory sterilization of individuals of questionable heredity, on the grounds that such action is anti religious and without biological basis, was published in vita Universities, official organ of Rome University. the article drew the praise of Osservatore romano, semi-official Vatican organ, which declared it had inspired a wave of sympathy throughout Italy. it was violently criticized, however, by the fascist press.
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.
