President Charles de Gaulle of France has been asked by Dr. William A. Wexler, International President of B’nai B’rith, to ‘seize an early occasion to right the wrong you have done — to the Jews — and to de Gaulle.” The B’nai B’rith letter to Gen. de Gaulle, stating the organization’s response to the French President’s recent expressions, was revealed today.
Gen. de Gaulle was told: “You have given renewed currency to vulgar and mischievous stereotypes of the Jewish people which, thanks to the growing ecumenical spirit promulgated by Vatican II, were falling into desuetude. Now, old and shabby anti-Semitic canards will seek to dignify themselves through the invocation of your name, despite what may be your personal sentiments. Thus you have brought needless hurt to a people to whom France brought liberty, equality, and fraternity, and who have served her loyally.”
Dr. Wexler added: ‘The book of Jewish history already contains too many grim chapters; they do not need another gloss that blames the victim for the crime.” B’nai B’rith, said Dr. Wexler, had “long admired the historic role you played in the liberation and re-creation of France.” But the organization was now moved “to express our deep disappointment and chagrin over the gratuitous and groundless remarks you made against the Jewish people in your press conference of November 27.”
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.
