Evening star., 1932-06-27
JEWISH CONGRESS
DELEGATES CALL
UPON PRESIDENT
Conference Representing
100000 Adults to Elect
Officers Today.
BORAH DEFENDS RIGHT
TO A NATIONAL HOME
Speakers Complain Of Discrimina-
ton Against Their Race
in Europe

After being received at the White
House at noon today by President
Hoover, delegates to the American
Jewish Congress prepared to elect Of
ficers and name representatives to the
Geneva Conference at the closing ses
sions this afternoon in the Willard
Hotel.
The congress. which represents the
interests of more than 400 900 organ
lied adult Jews in America, met on the
eve of what speakers described as the
most critical period in the long history
of the Jewish race to discuss world re-
lief problems, particularly among the
Jews of Central and Eastern Europe.
The delegates we're addressed last
night by Senator Borah of Idaho,
whose speech was sent out over Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. network.
Defends Rights of Jews.
There are two rights which ought to
be accorded any people" the Senator
said, the right to have national
home, place where they as a people
may breathe the atmosphere of home
and feel the inspiration of the national
spirit; secondly, the right to be pro-
tected from injustice and persecution,
the freedom to enjoy life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. The Jewish
people are pleading for the former and
demanding the latter.
"All right thinking people sympa-
thize with them in their aspirations.
The plan to establish a national home
in Palestine sprang from that passion
which neither time nor adversely can
xtinguish-devotion to race and coun-
try
1T is a great undertaking. full of
difficulty and danger. But 1t is a great
and reSourceful race which has taken 1t
up. I sincerely hope 1t will succeed.
II feel that the establishment of this
home on a large and successful scale
will go far toward ameliorating the in
tolerable treatment which the Jewish
people have received and still receive
at the hands Of some governments"
Sees Racial Emergency.
In his annual address, Bernard s.
DeutSch, president of the congress, de-
clared that never before in our long
history, perhaps, were we faced with
an emergency Of similar breadth and
intensity World Jewry is being men,
aced from all sides by an unparalleled
outburst of hatred. accelerated by the
continuance of the prevailing world
wide depression. While the condition
is grave in other lands, it has become
catastrophe in the countries of Cen
trail and Eastern Europe"
CharacteriZing Hitlerism in Germany
as IAN insane outcropping of medieval
bigotry and obscurantism," Mr.. Deutsch
expressed the hope that a restoration
~ oil In hot
country will Danish q condition de-
scribed by Prof Einstein as "a feeding
upon the empty stomach of Germany"
The immediate and most difficult
problem which confronts the Jews of
the world" the speaker said, lis the
economic prostration of the principal
Jewish communities of Eastern and Cen
trail Europe. 1t is no exaggeration to
say that we are witnessing the COM
plete pauperiZation of the Jewish
masses, bringing in its train incredible
suffering and misery reminiscent of the
hood-stricken areas of China"
Describes Russian Crisis.
In a summary Of conditions in Ger
many. Poland. Rumania and Russia, Dr.
Joseph Tenenbaum, chairman of the
National Executive Committee OF the
congress, said "a powerful movement Of
political, economic and geologic anti
Semitism will be known to history as
the black internationale OF the twen-
tieth century and aims at no less q
goal than the destruction of the Jewish
race.
THE nearly 100000 Jews In Eu-
rope are engulfed in a cataclysmic
struggle Of life and death Poverty.
mass starvation. political discrimination
and the abrogation of the most ele-
mentary human rights have brought
European Jewry to the brink Of
disaster"
The speaker pointed out that while
the economic and farm rehabilitation
programs Of the Soviet are aiding the
material welfare OF Jews In Russia, "all
the gains In the world cannot compen-
safe for the cultural annihilation Of
people"
The problems affecting American
Jewry, with emphasis on discrimination
in employment Of Jews in industry and
commerce, formed an important part of
the activities Of the American Congress
last year, according to Abraham Cohen,
executive director Of the Congress.
Surveys are in progress, Mr.. Cohen
said. to determine If there is racial dis
elimination in professional schools and
colleges in the employment of Jews in
America, or in the economic adjust
ment which is going on in the country
during the depression.
Simon E. Sobeloff United States dis
trict attorney at Baltimore, paid BIZ
centennial tribute to George Washing
ton on behalf Of the congress.
Nathan d. Perlman, chairman of the
Administrative Committee of the con-
gress, called attention to the necessity
of strengthening the ranks Of the con-
greSs and putting forward an aggressive
leadership in the face of the present
crisis.