RACIAL BIAS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 2

RACIAL BIAS

ANONYMOUS ATTACK Mr L. HORE-BELISHA LONDON. January 10. A new development in the conflict following Mr Hore-Belisha’s resignation as Minister of War is the disclosure that official notepaper, believed to have been stolen from the War Office, was used by an anonymous writer, or group of writers, to duplicate a circular letter, headed, “A Call to All Loyal Englishmen.” The letter, which is being investigated by the War Office, urged that Mr Hore-Belisha should be pushed into the background because he is a Jew. Another stir has .been caused by the decision of various newspapers to accept advertisements, issued by yet another anonymous group, demanding the immediate recall of Mr Hore-Belisha to the War Office. Copies Circulated The letter on War Office notepaper alleges that Jews and aliens control the Army, Navy, and Air Force. There is no signature, but it states that it was issued “by the command of a loyal Englishman ” Copies allegedly have been sent through the post to Army officers. A copy which was shown to the War Office was received by a lieutenantcolonel of the General Staff, who reported the matter at the week-end, since when investigations have been proceeding. It is generally believed that the letter was written by a fanatical antiSemite. Officials want to know whether it was written by an employee inside the War Office, or, if not, how the author came into possession of War Office stationery. Motives Discussed The most striking feature of the text of the letter is its similarity to attacks made on Mr Hore-Belisha and Jews generally by the German official wireless, and also by the German Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, and the leader of the German Labour Front, Dr. Ley. The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article referring to the ulterior motives being attributed to Mr Chamberlain in regard to Mr Hore-Belisha, and to the advertisements insisting on Mr Hore-Belisha’s recall, states: “Perhaps, intentionally, it is damaging to the Government. It is also damaging to the country. Is it sup- I

posed that Mr Chamberlain could be moved by outside pressure, from whatever poyerful source, to other considerations than that which he has owned to be the over-riding one—his sense of duty to the country in this emergency?”