Adoption of the anti-Nazi boycott by the American Federation of Labor was forecast yesterday in a statement by William Green, president of the organization. Mr. Green declared that evidence of torture and complete crushing of the German labor movement by the Hitler dictatorship will be presented to the A. F. of L. convention opening here October 2, and predicted that the American organization would follow the example of the International Trade Unions in adopting boycott measures against the Nazi regime.
“The executive council may make recommendations, but whether the council decides to do that or leave the question to the judgment of the convention without recommendation, it may be taken for granted that there will be resolutions demanding a boycott such as labor in several other nations has declared,” Mr. Green stated.
“The delegates to the convention,” he pointed out, “will have, as always, the complete right of free expression and while I cannot forecast their final action, I think I know the temper of American labor and their passionate devotion to the ideals of human freedom. Throughout our history our movement has sought to assist oppressed peoples elsewhere and our desire to help is not diminished. On the contrary, I think it is stronger today than ever, because of our own American revival of idealism. There will need be no surprise in Germany or elsewhere, if American labor turns to the boycott as a weapon in the age-old cause of liberty.”
Describing Hitlerism as a menace to the labor movement which Americans are now watching with increasing concern, Mr. Green said that extraordinary measures have been made necessary. He denounced the persecutory tactics of the Nazis as “medieval, revolting and sickening!”
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.
