The formation of an organization among South African Jews to support the Nationalist Party, which now controls the government, was announced here today by J. Nossel and Moses Rohm, a retired rabbi. The Nationalist Party has in the past attracted a number of anti-Semites to its standard.
The announcement was made after the two Jews had had a conference with Premier Daniel F. Malan who assured them that the government would “regard the movement with friendly feelings.” Reiterating his earlier statement that the government would not discriminate against Jews, Malan told Mossel and Rohm that in line with the government’s policy of giving priority in immigration to blood relations of South African residents, children of Jewish residents would receive early consideration in immigration. Malan added that no obstacles would be placed in the way of organizations caring for the religious needs of immigrants.
Turning to the Israeli question, the Premier said that he favored granting de Jure recognition as a follow-up of the de facto recognition granted by the Smuts Government, but that the present government would await the outcome of the U.N. discussion before acting. He stressed that there was diplomatic contact and mail service between Israel and South Africa.
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.
