Novelist Priestley Warns of Rising Anti-semitism in England

The novelist John B. Priestley today strongly condemned Jew-baiting and warned against increasing anti-Semitism in England.

Writing in the News-Chronicle, the noted author took to task an anti-Semite who in a recent letter to the newspaper had referred to refugees as “the scum of Europe.”

“Compare the ‘scum of Europe’ with what is left in Germany,” Mr. Priestley said. “Make a list of the great Jewish exiles headed by Einstein and compare them with the Nazi leaders.”

The writer refuted arguments alleging that the Jews dominated press and Government. He admitted, however, the existence of a world Jewish problem, declaring that much of the prejudice against the Jews was due to their failure to decide “between separation and identification.” The Jewish problem will not be settled, he said, until the Jew has decided either to “move farther away or to come nearer.”