PERSECUTION OF JEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 15

PERSECUTION OF JEWS

PROTEST IN SYDNEY LARGE TOWN HALL MEETING GERMAN REFUSED HEARING A meeting vrhich filled the Sydney Town Hall and which was attended by the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Stevens, and other leading citizens, recently decided to pror.est, through the British Government, against the persecution of Jews in jGermany by the Nazis. The meeting was called on requisition by the Lord Mayor, who presided. Mr. Stevens said he was heartily in accord with the protest, as the events occurring in Germany threatened the hopes of world peace. "To deny Jews the right to full citizenship and the right to observe the laws of the country is tantamount to saying they have no right to live. That idea is repugnant to our sense of fair play," said Mr. Stevens. The motion of protest was moved by the Premier and supported by several speakers, including Bishop Kirby, acting-head of the Anglican Church in Sydney. The motion was as follows: —- "That this meeting, representative of the citizens of Sydney of every race and creed, earnestly condemns the persecution of Jewish and other citizens in Germany and,' while expressing deep sympathy with the victims, still more deplores the revival of a reactionary spirit of intolerance and racial discrimination, which is opposed to the principles of civilised freedom." Rabbi Cohen said the members of his community did not harbour lasting resentment against the German people. Their quarrel was with the Nazis, and with the mistaken and vicious tactics of Hitler and others in authority. (Boos.) He had received documents and certain propaganda, including a letter from the German Consul-Gen-eral, Dr. Asmis, who had suggested that the cabled newspaper reports of anti-Jewish atrocities were either lies or misrepresentations. "Are we to believe that the whole of the press of the world has been led astray by incorrect reports?" Rabbi Cohen asked. Were they to believe that the British Foreign Secretary and that stupendously-minded man, Professor Haldane, had boon hoodkinked? Official cablegrams from Berlin acknowledged the policy of persecution. What did Mr. Asmis have to say to that? It was evident that uneasy minds in Germany were trying to justify the acts which the whole world condemned. It was despicably mean to attempt to make the whole Jewish section of Germany second-class citizens, because of their greater energy, applicability and ambition as members of the community.

At this stage Mr. Burkard, representing the German-Australian Chamber of Commerce, rose, and, after announcing his name, requested the Lord Mayor to allow him to say something. He met with a cold reception from the audience. A hostile demonstration drowned anything he uttered and, realising the futility of making himself heard, he returned to his seat.