Evening star., 1935-12-30
League Aid for Oppressed.

Hitherto it has been left for inter-
national philanthropy to minister to
the needs of the hundreds of thousands
of victims of Nazi racial and religious
persecution. Not only Jews, but Catholics
and Protestants, have come under the
heel of that despotic oppression. How
grave is the plight of these helpless
targets of bigotry is just disclosed by
James G. Mcdonald, the American who
for two years has acted as League OF
Nations high commissioner for refugees
from Germany.
The "one portentous fact facing the
League" says Mr.. Mcdonald in letter
submitting his resignation, is that more
than 100000 persons, against whom no
charge can be made except that they
are not what the National Socialists
choose to regard as 'Nordic,' are being
crushed" He adds that 'pauperization"
now also threatens Catholics and
Protestants, who in obedience to their
faith and conscience dare to resist the
absolute will of the Nazi state.
Holding that this legalized persecution
involves principles basic to civilization
itself" Mr.. Mcdonald declares that the
tragedy" calls for friendly but firm in
terceSsion" with the German government
by the League itself, rather than for
philanthropy. Collective world action
to cope with the problems thus pre-
sented, he says, is justified for the reason
that they constitute "a challenge to the
science of mankind, threat to mterna-
tional peace and a source of injury to
other states"
Eighty thousand persons threatened by
Nazi policies have already left Germany
for new homes. Countless others are
waiting to go. The Leagues refugee
relief efforts, the resigning high COM
missioner charges, have been MADE
Systematically Ineffective by successive
German edicts, and the situation now
demands more vigorous remedial actlon'
DESPITE Berlin's attitude, Mr.. Mcdonald
thinks that "pity and reason alike must
inspire the hope that League interces-
sion, by pacific means, will meet with
response. Conditions have reached
point, in any event, he asserts, where
considerations of diplomatic correctness
must yield to those of common
humanity"
The German government doubtless
will demonstrate, if and when League
representations are made, that it must
be the sovereign Judge of what is re-
ouired for the Reichs purposes. But
Mr.. Mcdonald pertinently points out
that the Nazi persecution program
projects "a source of unrest and per-
plexity in the world" and is menace
to the legitimate interests OF the states
affected by immigration of German
refugees" Oppression of Jews, Catnollcs
and Protestants facing poverty and exile
therefore ceases to be purely German
question and becomes concrete inter-
national ISSUE Protection OF oppressed
political minorities is one of the funda-
mental tenets of the covenant. The
League is now asked to intervene on
behalf of other groups terrorized under
conditions of cruelty and injustice that
have their counterpart only in the
Middle Ages.
Geneva is likely to be preoccupied for
some time to come with liquidation OF
the Italo-Ethiopian conflict. If it
eventually moves to persuade Germany
to revert to humanitarianism and
decency in the treatment of minority
groups, the League may be assured OF
the same worldwide support that has
accompanied its efforts to curb aggres-
sion. Hitlerite practices toward racial
and religious elements that incur Nazi
hatred shock the conscience of civilized
mankind. Modern times have known
nothing so horrifying or degrading. The
League will have q new claim on the
worlds respect and gratitude if it can
end the suppression of human rights in
Germany.