Francois Coty, perfume manufacturer and newspaper publisher, notorious for his anti-Semitic incitement, completely denies his anti-Semitic stand in an interview which he granted a Strasbourg paper.
M. Coty, who as recently as last April accused the Jews of being responsible for the sufferings endured by the populations of Russia, Poland, Roumania and China, declares in the interview : “I am not an anti-Semite. I am not prejudiced either in favor of or against the Jews. I am far from anti-Semitism, be it racial, political and religious. Not only my character but also my industrial interests necessitate a rejection of anti-Semitism. Further, a number of my most important collaborators in industry and journalism are Jews,” he is quoted as having stated.
M. Coty, in addition to heading the perfume company which bears his name, is the publisher of “L’Ami du Peuple” and “Le Figaro” both of which for years have intermittently conducted vigorous campaigns against the Jews and have spread the myth of international Jewish finance and Jewish aspirations for world domination. American Jewish financiers in particular were accused of being in the leadership of the alleged international Jewish plot.
Recently, M. Coty has experienced considerable financial and legal difficulties and has been made the defendant in several suits charging him with fraud in the administration of his business enterprises.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.