The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-04-27
JEWS AND THE WORLD
WAR


its administration as u Jewish home
land renews interest in the part
played by Jews in the late war and
how the war affected them. In
| communication to the National Geo
graphic society, former President Will
liam Howard Taft says:
"One half the Jews of the world
have hud to bear its miseries, it's cruel
| ties, its sufferings. They lived in the
theater Of war between Russia and
| Germany and Austria. In this region,
almost without ceasing, the campaign
continued. The Russians laid waste
the country in order to embarrass
their pursuing enemies, and between
the two armies the population, OF
fered untold horrors.
"As soon as the war came on, as
soon as notifications were initiated,
Germany and Austria, on the one
hand, and Russia, on the other, We'd
with each other in cultivation OF
the goodwill Of the Poles and the Jews.
Russia promised that an autono-
|
all three Of the incomplete tribal dis
tricts Of the partitiOned kingdom.
Some Of the leaders Of the Austrian
government announced an intention of
giving autonomy to Galicia.
"When the war came to an end,
tremendous governmental changes oc-
Cured in the countries where the Jews
are so greatly congested.
''The dreadful destruction Of life,
the necessity for rehabilitation of
these countries where the war ragged
with such violence and destruction,
must necessarily give greater economic
value to every man who survives.
The loyalty which the Jews have
shown to their respective governments
in these countries under most try
ing ordeal ought to impress their gov
ernments with the claim that they
make to equal treatment.
IF education and opportunity and
freedom and equality are extended to
them in the next generation, the traits
to which objection has sometimes
been made will become less and less
conspicuous, and Russia's great do
main, which needs people of energy,
people of keenness, people Of enter
PRISE people experienced In trade, PEG
pie of financial genius, will find a
benefit In the presence of the Jews.
"From the East End Of New York
and through centers Of population In
this country where Jews are gathered
by the million and hundreds of thou
sands, come the youth of the race
who soon manifest q spirit of Amer.
icanism and get on.
"They cultivate little or no solidar
ity In politics, and they manifest q
disposition to disintegrate as a com
munity. They retain loyalty to tn.
race, but not strict adherence to the
ceremonial, and they internarry witt
Gentiles.
THE Jews of the world, in cOuntrie.
: ties, have won their way not only t.
great financial power, but to place!
) of commanding influence in journal
5 ism, i'm the professions, and in bust
2 ness. They have retained always al
acute interest in the welfare of their co
religionists throughout the world Thei
: religious training has inculcated il
. them the duty Of charity to all-Jev
e and Gentle.
l. "The result Of the war and tn
/ breaking up of Russia and the givin,
: rein to the principle of self-detel
il mination of racial units have creates
: number of independent Europea
states in central and eastern Europe
e OF these. the Baltic provinces and PC
n land, as well as the CzechO-Slova
n state ane ,he Jugo-Slav state, hav
d many Jewish citizens. In addition
n this, the Greater Roumania, Is m
1. other state which has many JEWS
citizens.
D. ''The German treaty specifically pre-
If vldes that the Ave great powers sha
); make future treaties with Poland an
lc with the CzechO- Slovak state secu
te ing the religious liberties Of the PEI
pie who constitute a minority in thos
t. states"