PLIGHT OF JEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 7

PLIGHT OF JEWS.

MUCH CONCERN FELT

COMMONS QUESTIONS.

German Boycott Notices in

London.

OFFICIAL ATTITUDE STATED,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12 noon.)

RUGBY, April 10.

Answering questions in the House of Commons regarding the recent arrest of two Englishmen in Germany, Sir John Simon said that the British Consul in Berlin had been informed by the police authorities that Mr. Fraser was charged with having committed "acts in preparation for high treason," and was to be transferred to the Moabit prison to await trial.

The British Ambassador had asked the German Foreign. Minister, Baron von Neurath, for more precise information regarding the charge.

The second Englishman, Mr. Catchpool, had been released the day after his arrest without, it is understood, any charge being brought against him.

Sir John was asked whether action to protect the Jewish minority in Upper Silesia would be taken by the League of Nations, and whether the Jewish minority was not guaranteed full equality under the German Polish convention of 1922,

He said that the League Council had laid it down that the procedure under Article XI. of the Covenant should not normally be employed in cases relating to the protection of minorities under treaties, and "should only be invoked in grave cases which produce a feeling that facts exist which might effectively menace the maintenance of peace between nations."

It was doubtful whether Article XI. could be properly worked in the case of the Jewish minority in Upper Silesia.

Regarding the German-Polish Convention, he was not aware that any appeal had been made to the Council on the ground that the Jewish minority had been deprived of its rights under that convention.

Replying to further questions Sir John Simon said that the whole subject of the position of Jews in Germany was receiving a great deal of public attention, and he himself was making inquiries.

Replying to a. further question Sir John Gilmour, Home Secretary, said that Jews might exhibit posters if they chose to do so, but he. was sure the House would agree that it was undesirable that members of the public should, at present, take any action liable to inflame feeling. It was certainly the intention of the Government to allow all reasonable expression of free opinion in this country on the matter.

Many Jewish shops In the East End replaced the German boycott notices following the police assurance that they would not take action. It was explained that the original order for removal was given with the best intentions.