Evening star., 1938-05-01
Back to the Borgias.

Matters are reaching q point in Ger
many which can only be explained on
the theory that sadism is now enthroned
at Berlin. The latest device of the Nazi
autocrats to destroy the fragments Of
Judaism, which have survived five years
OF persecution unrivaled since the bar
barism of the middle ages, compels the
outside world to conclude not only that
human compassion and all sense OF rea-
son have taken wings in the Reich, but
that Hitler and his crew are now utterly
callous to the opinions of the nom
totalitarian universe. They have OBJ
viously determined to pursue their mad
career Of oppression and cruelty regard
less Of the disrepute into which it is
bound to bring what is left of Germanys
once good name abroad. Der Fuehrer
and his co-zealots will be fortunate If the
worlds indignation is confined to mere
resentment Of their insensate racial in
tolerance. Civilized countries-among
them, the United States-have been
known to break of diplomatic, CONNER
cial and cultural relations with govern
ments as blind to the elementary decen-
cies Of life as Germany is proving to be
in the maltreatment of her helpless jew
ish minority.
Fully and finally to crush the economic
existence Of the Jews-in effect, to i'm
pose upon them "a death sentence" as
Mr.. A. Alan Lane, chairman of the Joint
American Committee for Protection of
Minorities, puts it-General Goering, as
commissar for the Four-Year Plan, has
decreed that all Jews in Germany, in
cluding those of foreign citizenship, must
report by June 80 all their possessions in
excess of $3.50. Goering, in the same
ukase. authorizes himself to take such
measures as may be necessary ito insure
utilization" of the property thusreported.
That is. Of course. a euphonious way Of
saying that Jewish holdings will be held
forfeit to the state and confiscated. Ber-,
lin dispatches report that uncertainty
exists merely as to whether the seized
property will be "Aryanized" or "idui-
dated'-that is, either taken over" by
non-Jewish Germans at more or less
forced sale. or the Jewish victims simply
driven out Of business by boycott. In
either event their economic doom will be
sealed.
The Schwarze Korps, official organ of
the Hitler ELITE Guard" jubiliantly COM
ments on Goering's Jew annihilation
program in these terms: 1--WE must force
the Jews to hold out in their self selected
parasitic posts until their money is gone.
We must convince them with all means
that they cannot longer remain in Ger
many and that it is still better business
for them to pay the flight tax today than
to be deported to Palestine or Mada-
gascar tomorrow. German business must
be cleansed Of Jewsl"
Is that the language Of the twentieth
century or the Eeartless tongue which the
Borgias spoke? The American people are
about to have opportunity to give an an
swer to Germany which will perhaps be
the most effective one possible under the
circumstances. The United Palestine Ap-
peal is seeking to raise $25, 900 900 to amel-
iorate the plight Of Europe's harassed
Jewry. Liberal response to that effort,
which transcends all lines Of race, creed
or nationality, will bespeak this free peo-
ple's reaction to one of the major human
tragedies Of all time, unless beforehand
the Reich's anti-Semitic vendetta brings
1t into violent conflict with the United
States through violation Of the rights of
Jewish residents of Germany who are
American citizens.