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Quebec Separatist Party Fires Editor of Paper That Attacked Jews

August 29, 1966
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A spokesman for the separatist Ralliement National Party of Quebec said today that the editor of the party’s official newspaper, La Nation, had been discharged after widespread criticism of anti-Jewish material published in it. The spokesman said that the editor, Joseph Costisella, was being replaced by an editorial board which would “carefully screen” all material published in La Nation to “avoid any more of this.”

The criticized material had sought to link Quebec Jews with “international Communism” and charged that they had given nothing to the development of the Province of Quebec, The statements were described by Saul Hayes, executive vice-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, as stemming from “ignorance or malice” and as a mischievous and pernicious smear.”

Demands have been voiced that Gilles Gregoire, president of the Ralliement National, resign from his seat in Parliament because of the anti-Jewish smears in La Nation. Not only Jewish leaders, but also leaders of the Soviet Credit and the Conservative parties have demanded that M. Gregoire quit his parliamentary seat. However, he has refused to do so.

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