The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-03
POCR0M REPORTS
MUCH MAGN|F|ED
U. S. Minister to Poland Says
Germans Exaggerate
Anti Jew Trouble

WASHINGTON, June 3.-Reports thus
far received of the alleged massacres Of
Jews in Poland and other countries Of
eastern Europe justify a rebuke to the
governments OF those countries by the
United States, Representatives Slegel,
Laguardia and Goldfogle, all Of New
York, declared today at a hearing be-
fore the house foreign affairs commit
tee on resolutions relating to the alleged
i'll treatment.
The new Polish government in turn
was defended against the pogrom
charges by Representative Kleczka, Of
Wisconsin, who asserted the reports OF
~nlassacres were Of German origin, de-
signed to show that Poland was in.
capable OF self-government." The Poles
in this country, he asserted, courted
an investigation of their native land.
appeared before the committee to pre-
sent a report received by the state de-
partment from Hugh Gibso, the new
American minister to Poland. The re-
port said house-to-house fighting oc-
Cured in Wilma May g.. but that Ger
tn be exaggerated. Further reports from
Minister Gibson will be given the COM
mittee tomorrow by Secretary Phillips.
Three resolutions, one by Zach Of the
three New York representatives heard
yesterday, led to the hearing. Repre-
sentative Siegel in his resolution pro-
posed that the state department re-
quest President Wilson to inform the
| peace conference that American sentl-
| ment deplores the alleged outrages.
Representative Laguardia's resolution
provides that the American peace dele
cation inform the nations in which the
acts are said to have occurred that
they would be denied the friendship OF
the United States should the acts be
| continued. The president is called upon
by Representative Goldfogle's measure
% take steps to stop any ill treatment
I'VE did not go into this war to
help set up governments that will toll
crate open murder Mr.. Siegel told
the committee after reading numerous
newspaper reports Of the alleged po-
groms in Poland, Rumania and Galicla.
Were these acts committed by law
less bands or authorized by the gov
eminent" Mr.. Sigel was asked.
''They are being committed by the
| established military authority" he an
swered, land the government has not
said a single word that anyone has
been punished for these acts"
Forty-five persons were killed at
pinsk on April s, 80 minutes after their
arrest, Mr.. siegel said. adding: This
has never been explained. 1t can't be
explained.
Representatives Kleczca, declaring
"Pojfsh people in America feel ex-
trAmely hurt" by the reports, asserted
they were without foundation and
| poi.ited out that the occurrences were
said to have happened from November
to January last, before the birth Of
the new Polish government, Racial
| and religious freedom prevail in Poland.
he said. adding that In the first Polish
election eight Jews were elected to the
Constituent assembly and were sitting
AS members of the diet at Warsaw.
representatives La Guardia and Cold
| fosle also pointed to the numerous
Newspaper reports of massacres OF Jews,
Mi said no proof was available to show
that the foreign governments author
] ICED the outrageA