TREATMENT OF JEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 64, 17 March 1939, Page 2

TREATMENT OF JEWS

BARRED FROM THEATRES “The life of a Jew or part Jew in Germany to-day is unbelievably dreadful," said Miss Mary Hursthouse, who returned to Wellington last week, after 15 months abroad, a large part of which was spent in Germany. As the guest of several leading families, including Jewish households, Miss Hursthouse obtained first-hand information of conditions in Germany today. Miss Hursthouse said that Jews or part Jews were barrod from restaurants and theatres, and quite often ' during the performance at a cinema ! theatre there was a police raid and i all the patrons had to produce identification cards. The Jews present were then imprisoned Cor breaking a law. To a Jewish family a sharp knock on the door meant only one thing—the secret police had called to arrest a member of the family. “There is no doubt,” said Miss Hursthouse, “that Hitler has been successful in regulating Germany, and every effort is made to show visitors the best side of his social scheme. In hotels, restaurants and even private homes special concessions are made to visitors because Germany wants tourists to circulate currency.” Miss Hursthouse stayed in Pomerania. near the Baltic Sea, whore she was the guest of an old German family connected with the Evangelical or Confessional Church, which is directly opposed to Naziism and all for which it stands. She said that although up to the present pastors of the Confessional Church were not imprisoned, every possible hindrance was placed in their way. During 1938, 700 pastors were placed in prison. When asked how the general public accepted Naziism. she explained that vejthout exception the old cultured families who, for generations had been used to living their own lives and exercising freedom of thought, were opposed to Hitler. But among the youth of Germany, for whom he had created a new nation, he found support.