Evening star., 1938-10-23

LONDON-The Jews are watching
Benito Mussolini as they once watched the
ancient Pharaohs.
His word, they believe, will decide whether
the modern exodus which started in Naz
Germany and spread to other parts Of the
world Is ending or is just beginning.
If he proscribes them from Italy. they
fear other lands will follow his example.
II he slackens his anti-Semitic cam
paign Of recent days, they would conclude
that world bitterness against the Jews may
have spent itself.
His decision will have momentous i'm
plications for already nearly a third of
all the Jews on the globe want to leave
their homes, but have almost no place to go.
In round figures, that third is 100000
people.
Informed Jewish quarters here say that
the plight of 1000 900 of the 5000 900 is
urgent-that they must be permitted to
nnd new homes.
Will the 100000 be permitted to settle
in peace?
The Picture Has Changed.
Mussolini is looked to for a signal of
the future trend because up to the last
few months Italy was in q class Of he- own
in handling the Jewish question.
While Adolph Hitler's campaign was at
its height in Germany Semites lived un-
troubled on II Duces side Of the Alps Free
dom for Jews was an announced govern
ment policy.
But now the picture has changed. The
Fascist government has given foreign-bo born
Jews-estimated At 12.000-who entered
Italy, Lbya and the Aegean Isles since
January /. 1919. six months to get out of
the country. The deadline Is March IL,
1899.
The S7,425 Italian Jews in Italy also
are beginning to feel anti-Semitic meas
sures They are excluded from state
recognized schools, universities and all
academies. institutes and associations Of
science. arts and letters"
Textbooks by Jewish authors are barred,
a. are all marriages between Italians and
Africans, Semitic and other races" Ci-
villain and military employees of the state
are forbidden to marry foreign women
Of whatever race"
italian Jews are prohibited from enroll
ing In the Fascist party, from owning or
managing business Arms employing more
than 100 persons. from owning more than
50 hectares 123.5 acres) of land, and from
entering 1taly's military services in peace
or war time Families of certain classes
of war veterans or soldiers killed in wars
are among the exceptions.
Sanctuary Offered.
The Fascist Grand Council offered Jews
the prospect Of seeking sanctuary in
Ethiopia.
Elsewhere. the Jewish problem is worse,
In the Central European Jewish belt, which
except for New York City has the heaviest
concentration Of Jews on the globe.
Greater Germany, excluding the newly
acquired sudetenland, now has an esti-
mated 55o,0oo Jews.
In the two years after Hitler became
Chancellor, on January 80, 1893, s0,5O0
persons-mainly Jews-quit Germany.
Nazi leaders in Germany have stated re-
peatedly that elimination of Jews from
public life and enforcement Of the prin-
ciple Of complete Jewish segregation would
be the Jews ultimate fate.
Eight million Jews. amounting to almost
per cent Of the total population live in
the former Austria, Czechoslovakia Danzig,
Hungary, Latvia. Lithuania. Northwest
Russia, Poland, Rumania, White Russia
and the Ukraine.
In Western and Southern Europe Jews
represent about one-half of per cent of
the population; in Northern Europe the
percentage drops to .21 Of per cent.
There are half million Jews in Pales-
tine, Arabia, 1raq and Syria, representing
3h per cent of the peoples there.
Csechoslovakia has $4,000 Jews, who
now fear they will lose the freedom which
they won after fighting in Bohemian armies
defending Prague. Some 10000 Jews and
other refugees are being driven back into
the sudetenland, now part OF Greater
Germany.
Jews in London said they feared that
in Slovakia, under the leadership of DR..
Joseph Tiso, the new government might
fight Communists and Jews on the ground
that both have international connections
and are inimical to strong nationalism.
Measures Taken in Poland.
Poland has $500, 900 Jews, against whom
anti-semitic measures long have been
applied. They are excluded from certain
trades and professions and are recognized
- outsiders.
Rumanias Jews took heart with the fall
of the late Octavian 0oga from power
his anti-semitic government lasted six
weeks 1T the beginning Of the year-but
Jewish organisations which have been try
ing to negotisze for betterment Of their
conditions say = change Is imminent and
it might be for the better or worse.
Hungarys half . million Jews fear grow
ing German influence over the regime of
the Regent, Admiral Nicholas Horthy.
Demonstrations against Jews increased
with the recent German -Czechoslovak
crisis.
Danzis's 10000 Jews are in the same
class With their brethren in Greater Ger
many and fully expect stern measures
b the Nsa 1uiees.