WILL JEWRY HIT BACK?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 7

WILL JEWRY HIT BACK?

BOLD REPRISALS PLANNED REPLY TO ANTI-SEMITIC CAMPAIGN PROTESTS ADDRESSED TO DEMOCRACIES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 2. According to the “'Sunday Chronicle,” Jewry, which is faced with persecution in Poland, Rumania, Germany, Austria, Hungary and elsewhere, intends to hit back. The battle will be fought on the world’s stock exchanges, and most of the anti-Semitic states which are burdened with debts, may find their very existence threatened.

The leaders of international Jewry met at a village near Geneva this week and arranged for a £500,000,000 fund, with which to fight their persecutors. Jewish financiers throughout the world will have no difficulty in raising such a fund, which, combined with a trade boycott, will enable a counter offensive in which their persecutors may be defeated, to be launched. Representatives of the World Jewish Congress meeting at Geneva, addressed protests to the British, French and United States Governments and to the League of Nations, calling attention to the "anti-Semitic measures,’ ’which are stated to be contemplated by Rumania. They add that such measures are a violation of the Minorities Treaty.

RUMANIA’S ANTI-SEMITIC POLICY LIKELY LINES OF ACTION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 3, 8.30 p.m.) BUCHAREST, January 3. A special service, reserved for Jews,) when great danger threatens, was held in crowded synagogues. The worshippers included many prominent personages, who have not attended for a long time. Jewish merchants are curtailing long term orders, owing to nervousness. Many are selling out their stocks, which are not being replaced. Outline of Programme The Government's anti-Semitic programme is expected to divide the Jews into different categories: First: War veterans and their children, who will not be molested; Secondly: Those who did not fight, for good reason, and whose case will be considered in the light of their activities since the war; Thirdly: Non-partlcipants in the war, and post-war immigrants against whom every possible measure is expected to be taken. Messages from Bucharest following the reconstruction of the Rumanian Cabinet, indicated that the new Prime Minister, M. Octavian Goga, intends to confiscate Jewish lands, cancel Jewish licenses to sell tobacco and alcohol, and to forbid them to become merchants in the villages. The expulsion of many immigrants is expected.

The Rumanian Bourse closed until January 10, because of heavy falls in all securities, caused not only by the rush of Jews to realise their assets, but also by the fears of non-Jews about possible anti-capitalist measures. The Rome correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” stated that Italy attaches immense importance to the formation of the new Rumanian Government, which is hailed as the breakup of the Little Entente. Signor Gayda, in the "Gioranle d'ltalia” says: "The new Government is anti-Semitic and Nationalist. It will gradually expel the Jewish hordes. In foreign policy it will avoid the dangers of verbose democracies, and in time may even join the anti-Communist Pact.”

The Vienna correspondent of "The Daily Telegraph” stated that alarm had been caused by the prospect of an exodus of Jews from Rumania. Dr. Schuschnigg’s new paper, the “Weltblatt," said: “In the interests of Austrian traders, the country should immediately bolt the door by an antiimmigration law.” It was also reported from Sofia that the Bulgarian Government had forbidden Jews and other refugees from Rumania to enter Bulgaria.

JEWS’ MARRIAGES VOID

SENSATIONAL POLISH DECLARATION PERFORMED BY “ ILLEGAL RABBIS’ ’ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 3, 6.30 p.m.) WARSAW, January 2. After an investigation the Polish authorities declared void over four thousand marriages contracted by Jews in the Wilno district before legal rabbis and applications made for recognition of the children as born in wedlock.