Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-27
MR.. WILSON TAKES
STEP TO AID JEWS
New States to Be Warned
Against Any Tendency to
Discriminate.
MESSAGE TO RABBI WISE
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN,

That all new states which have been
created in Paris must not resort to
racial discrimination such as is
charged against the Poles. Rumanians
and Czechoslovaks by the Jews Is the
assurance given by President Wilson
to Rabbi Stephen Wise, the great Jew
ish leader Of New York.
The pledge comes in answer to q
great wave of protest against alleged
pogroms in Poland and other sections
Of disorganized Europe, where the
Jews feel that their very life Is at
stake.
Secretary Tumulty's message. in
conveying the assurance of President
Wilson, says:
1.-The President requests me to as
sure you that the safeguards against
religious discrimination, which the
President says he has so much at
heart, will be embodied in the new ar
rangements by which the new states
will be set up"
Pressure on Governments.
That the allied powers will imme-
diately bring pressure upon those
governments so recently created in
the new states of Europe to take
prompt steps In curbing the untram-
meled prejudices and antagonisms OF
Jews is taken for granted. Repre-
sentatives of Jewish interests of the
world, who have been in Paris to for
ward the Zionist movement and pro-
tect Jewish rights at their hearth
stone, also have been bringing pres
and all other statesmen identified with
the Paris conference for assurances
against racial discrimination. This
pressure has been particularly direct
ed toward the American delegation,
which. in the eyes Of the oppressed
peoples of the world. ts their only
salvation.
The British delegation likewise has
been bombarded by pleas for action
tending to insure the Jews of the
world freedom of religion, freedom of
thought and the removal of all re-
strictions which have tended in many
parts of Europe to hazard their eco
nomic wellbeing. commercial and trade
advancement.
The British as well as French dele
gates have been more or less indiffer-
ent to the claims Of the Jews for equal
rights in all lands where they dwell
inasmuch as the French and British
associated the Jew In eastern Europe
with the bolshevik movement.
Furthermore. there are strong pretu-
dices against the Jew in many Of their
dominions, and any radical stand on
the part of either would inflame the
populations OF several of their de-
tendencies.
America therefore has been the one
great friend for the Jew to- whom he
can turn expecting q square deal.
Americas influence in the Paris con-
ference has been counted upon by all
great Jewish leaders, notably Nathan
Straus. who has spent much of his
time in recent months in Paris to
force the desired protection through
out the world.
Insists on Liberal Spirit.
President Wilson has moved with
caution, but ~ is known that al
though he could not gain consent Of
several other nations to q clause in
the league OF nations guaranteeing
racial equality and religious freedom.
which the Jews insisted upon, the
President evidently is making it plain
to the other powers that he will insist
cordance with the broad liberal spirit
Of America.
81 In view of the fact that clauses
guaranteeing the Jews religious free
dom could not and were not incor-
porated In the league Of nations, 1t IL
believed in Warrington that govern
ments Of the new states, which are
largely dependent upon the larger
powers for financial and economic as
sistance, win be closely scrutinized.
Avowed enemies of the Jews or those
men who would be most liable to wink
at anti-Semetic pogroms in any quarter
will hardly receive the approval Of the
allies.