PERSECUTION OF JEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 7

PERSECUTION OF JEWS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am surprised at the ideas of your correspondent, Mr W. Ricalton. After four days of serious thinking he replies to me, desiring the last word, and says “ the Jews deserve all they get, and that Hitler no doubt has suffered by their greed.” How many persons can. form that conclusion after consideration of all the facts beats me. Mr Ricalton is right and the world is wrong. The facts are probably that the Jews are being used to distract attention from Germany’s economic position, due to rearmament, drainage of finance, and Germany’s hatred of Britain on account of jealousy, knowing full well that Britain, as champion of the Jewish cause, would be assisted by Jewish financiers in time of war with Germany or Italy: hence the measures that have been taken by broadcasts and propaganda to frustrate all efforts to bring the Palestine trouble to a peaceful solution. Germany has seen to it that financial assistance by the way of a fine of £83,000,000 shall be extracted from the Jews within her border—without waiting for war. The case put up by Mr Ricalton is quite absurd. I know in all races there are good and bad employers. What about the time of child slavery in Britain and the employment of children in mines? What about the time of the Puddleton martyrs who dared, to obtain better conditions and wages? I say emphatically that many employers of Jewish origin are ideal. We have people here in New Zealand, as in all places, that deserve to be branded as Mr Ricalton does the Jews. Human greed knows no race. Mr Ricalton has no time for ruthless war lords. Methinks the German people as a majority think likewise, but fear predominates in that land. We Dunedinites not long ago were favoured by a visit of the “ Comedy Harmonists.” These are of German or Austrian origin. We all enjoyed their company. Such are the people of Germany, the decent Germans. We know that the smashing and looting of 10,000 shops by the very spontaneity of its happening and the hour (2 a.m.) was carried out according to plan. Little children were torn from their beds, and husbands torn from their loved ones, and are now languishing in concentration camps. The conclusion of our correspondent is that they deserve it all—ye gods! Mr Ricalton says I seem to agree that the Jews are exploiters. I do nothing of the kind. One is not compelled to work or trade .with Jews. There is a remedy in a democratic land for sweating. To say it was carried on behind the scenes is rubbish. The Jew, frugal living, knowing money values, gets on top in all lands. The Jew is a peaceful individual and wins in all lands by sheer grit, determination, and honest effort. When men think better, when all try the new method—appeasement —we shall be getting towards the real remedy for the ills of this troubled world. The Jews possess the greatest of human virtues—charity. Their gifts for the welfare of others, their contributions to science, art, medicine, and culture deserve better treatment for them, tye are approaching that season once more, the birth of the lowly Jew who too was subjected tp inhuman treatment. He did not need to use the German methods, and will some day come into His own. I trust the Jews will do likewise. The world wishes them well.—l am, etc., November 29. B. E. Kite.