U.S. Relief Agent Tells of Increased Anti-semitism in Balkans Under Nazi Pressure

Conditions in the Balkans under increased German economic pressure were described here today by Ernst O. Heyl, American representative in the Balkans for the American Commission for Polish Relief, as he arrived at LaGuardia Airport aboard the Dixie Clipper from Lisbon.

Returning after three months, spent largely in Rumania, to report on the food situation in the Balkans, Heyl also brought with him tales of increased oppression of the Jews, which followed strengthened German influence growing out of “false promises” to protect the Balkan states against Russian invasion.

In Rumania, Heyl said, one newspaper had been suspended because it had not fired its Jewish reporters within 24 hours, and Jewish writers and editorial workers have been forbidden to work on Rumanian papers. Government officials of Jewish faith have been forced to give up their jobs, he continued.

“Famine does not threaten the Balkans,” he went on, “but there are no crop surpluses. There is an acute shortage of a number of food staples.”

Shortages are intensified by German seizure of all and any crop surpluses by what is known as “allocation northward.”

Also on board the plane was Owen J.C. Norem, United States Minister to Lithuania Norem declined to say whether he had been recalled because of the Russian occupation, but said that he had “lots to tell Mr. Hull.”