L.T. SUMOCOj^jiOMDAY < .MQ.VK.MRF.R 14th. 19aB, GOOD EYEUm EVEBZBODY: The persecution of the Jews has provoked not only horror, but confusion in the world. It has created a troubled situation in European international politics. Incidentally, it has brought a serious embarrassment to the British Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, / and his government. As we all know, Chamberlain had been hoping for an all around understanding with Hitler. The Nazi treatment of the Jews has aroused such a storm of public disgust in England that the cabinet dare even talk of negotiations with the Fuehrer at the present t^ Anglo-German relations were further aggravated by attacks on •) British statesmen by the German press. In fact. Downing Street today sent a formal protest to Berlin; Chamberlain admitted as much in the House of Commons today. The protest in the Prime Minister’s words, was against recent outbreaks in the German press associating a former British minister,” meaning Duff Cooper, ”and members of the house of Commons with the murder of a German diplomat in ^a^is,,1 Another statement in the House demonstrated that the backs of the Chamberlain cabinet have been stiffened on the colonial question. The ^rirne Minister also announced: regret to say that reports in the press regarding action against Jews in Germany appear to be substantially correet,n Still further embarrassments are probably ahead for Chamberlain and his colleagues. A great deal of the Jewish property that was damaged in the German riots was insured at Lloyds and by other British companies. As we have heard, the Nazi government has decreed that all insurance claims for thus e damages a forfeited to the Government, Insurance officials in England say they cannot pay claims to anybody but the people who were insured. Consequently, if the German government tries to collect those claims from British insurance companies, they will appeal to the British government for protection. And that’s sure to cause dip lomatic headaches. ADD JEWS Even the German stock market reacted to the Jewish persecutions. Of course dealing securities is under strict government control, so violent panics are more or less impossible over there. However, there was a distinct slump. (They call it a slump over there if shares drop even three or four points.) A good deal of the decrease in prices is due to the sale of eecurities by well-to-do Jews who have to realize cash in order to pay the four hundred million dollars fine imposed on them for the murder of that minor diplomat in Paris. Also, of course, tp pay for the damage to their property which was caused by Nazi mobs. All the foreign consulates in Berlin, including Uncle Samfs were surrounded by terrified and almost hysterical crowds. Entrances and sidewalks were literally jammed with Jews trying to get permission to leave the country. One of the most pathetic sights was outside the United States consulate. There the Jews were told that the quota from Germany had been filled long since. Nevertheless, hundreds stood around, waiting in vain hope. Of course there’s no way of knowing the feelings of the German people at large. The attitude of the Nazis, as shown in the ADD JEWS - 2 controlled newspapers, is one of indifference mixed with defiance of opinion in other countries* Restrictions on the Jews are made even more severe. It is announced today that Jewish children are to be expelled from all German schools. They were excluded from the Universities some years ago, with certain exceptions. Even those exceptions are now abolished. Another regulation published today was that Jews may not publicly sing songs of which the words were written by Goethe and other great German national poets. They're also forbidden to perform the plays of German dramatists. AntL-Hewish riots broke out in Danzig late today. Every Jewish shop was smashed, sixteen Jews arrested and a hundred and twenty homes were invaded by the Nazi secret police. As for America, reports from all parts of the country indicated that the indignation is almostunanimous. Organizations and individuals, city councils and other bodies utter protests* So far there is no official word from Washington. But it looks as though there would be occasion for the state department to tase action since it's reported from Hamburg that Fritz Warburg, a member of the American banking family, has been arrested. One effect of the Jewish persecution in Germany has been to make our governments interest all the keener in the Pan-American conference to be held Shortly in Peru ASSASIK Meanwhile, specialists in lunacy are examining the seventeen year old assassin, the Polish lad who brought all this grief upon Jews in Germany. His jailors allowed him to read the news, to learn what happened after he assassinated the Third-Secretary of the German embassy in Paris. They say he is stricken with remorse and passes his time observing the Jewish rites of atonement. The French authorities haven*t yet decided whatfs to be done to the lad. Psychiatrists are examinging him at the order of the Court to determine whether he is responsible for his actions. There was some talk© of extraditing him to Germany. But as the assassination was committed in Paris, thatfs impossible undo? the French law. How the question is whether the boy is to be tried before the special court for youthful offend4rs. Even the C.I.Q. convention at Pittsburgh was made the scene of a protest against Jewish persecutions. John L. Lewis, chairman of the C.I.O. described Adolf Hitler as a blood-thirsty wolf and the latest pogroms as the most deplorable acts in history. The entire convention .jumped "to its feet and cheered him when he voiced a call for our state department to protest against "These cruelties inflicted upon a defenseless people." After Lewis had finished, three speakers made speeches pleading for peace between the A. F. of L. and the C.I.O. A special committee was appointed to draw up a plan for ending the prolonged quarrel between the two labor organizations. V/hen the convention adjourned this afternoon the committee started work at TRADE TREATY The much debated trade treaty between Uncle Sam and Joh Bull has taken much longer to consummate than anyone expected. Several months ago we were told that it was almost an accomplished fact. Naturally, its the most important of that chain of agreements so dear to the heart of Secretary Hull. It has been his theory that one of the soundest ways to bring about good feeling all over the world was to restore the free movement of commerce. But a few weeks ago, the treaty with Britain ran up against a snag. There were several points upon which downing Street and our State Department couldn’t see eye to eye. However, the turmoil in Europe made it appear all the more desirable to rush it through. And today word comes from London that the difficultps have been ironed out/ That trade treaty, we hear, will be positively signed on Thursday. Great things are expected of it, let’s hope they’re all true. PHILIPPINES This Is the third anniversary of Philippine independence and apparently those islands are not completely and entirely happy over it all. The Tydings-MdDuffie Act of Nineteen Thirty-Four gave the Filipinos ten years in which to prepare themselves for complete autonomy. That would mean, among other things, that Philippine products would have to pay duty when they’re shipped to the United States, Conse«?uently, while speeches were being made in praise of independence, business men in the islands were shaking their heads. As a matter of fact, there’s a mission of Filipino business men now in Washington, trying to postpone the date when goods from the Philippines will no longer come into America duty free. Cuba is not a dictatorship, says the Cuban Dictator Colonel Fulgencio Batista, once a sergeant in the army, doesn*t like that word "dictator."^ To be sure, everybody has been calling him that, and all accounts tell us that his word is law in the island* Blit he himself says: not a dictator, I'm a social leader. What's more, we in Cuba would not stand for any sort of totalitarian government.^ And he added: "I»d oppose any totalitarian propaganda and the people of Cuba would be In accord. Colonel Batista, was in V/est Point today, reviewing Uncle Sam's cadets E¥STQK In i’iew York City one afternoon some years ago a traffic Oj.fioer stopped a man who was driving a motor car up Broadway* Said the Sop; f,V/ho do you think you are, Barney Oldfield?” Of course you remember the obvious finish to that story; it was Barney Oldfield, I'm dragging that chestnut down off the shelf today because something like that happened in London, An automobile was being driven along the Embankment on the south side of the River Thames, its speed -- thirty-seven miles an hour. A London bobby gave the driver a ticket, and took him to court. The motorist was Captain George Eyston who had just returned to England from America where he had driven over the Utah salt flats at more than three hundred and fifty miles an hour. Captain Eyston plaintively explained his predicament to the magistrate. But the magistrate is evidently no respecter of record breakers. He said coldly: "Five dollars fine,” and ordered that it should be written down on Captain Eyston*s driver's license. I recall once in India, years ago talking to the poet and philosopher Rabindrinath Tagore. "The trouble with British justice EXSTON - 2 is," said Tagore, nthat it is too pure. Untouched by human hand,® was the way he put it. Probably Captain Eyston would agree with Rabindrinath Tagore JEW IN A court room in New Yorkreverberated with amazing words today» They were obviously the words of a madman; yet there were coherence and meaning in them, as sometimes happens in the utterances of the insance. The madman was Robert Irwin, the young sculptor who murdered two women and a man in New York on Easter Sunday last year. It was well known that Irwin*s counsel would plead insanity. Everybody expected the usual spectacle of rival groups of experts on the stand, some saying Irwin is insane, others that he was unbalanced but knew what he was doing when he killed those three people. An unexpected climax came on the third day of the trial. Eight jurors had been selected. Suddenly, Irwin*s principal lawyer arose In court and asked that the jurors be excused for a few moments. Then he announced that he wished to offer on behalf of his client a plea of guilty to murder in the second degree. The prosecuting attorney consented. Thereupon the Judge turned to the young sculptor and saidi wWnat about you, are you willing to plead g uilty?*1 Irwin jumped to his feet and grabbed at the opportunity for a theatrical display IRWIfl - 2 He said. nI am willing to take this plea but X want to say that the prosecution nas uttered several deliberate lies»n The diidge broke in and said: "Do you realize you're pleading guilty to the crime of murder in the second degree? M Irwin replied: "Everything seems to be technical here and I know that technically I am pleading guilty to murder*" And he added: "But X want it understood that I do not admit that X committed one murder, let alone three." Then he added: "I looked up the word 1 murder' in the dietionary and found that it is defined there as the malicious killing of a human being by another human being* I want it understood th-t there was nothing malicious in what X did. However, " he added, "I am taking this plea a gainst my better Judgement becuase it will save money and because my counsel, who has kindly and generously given his time to this case, advises me to do so," And he said further: "It has been necessary to talk me blue in the face to get me to agree to this." Irwin then turned livid as he turned to the table where the reporters were writing and screamed: "I want you to know that I would have emerged from this trial better than t■ 10se professional liars over there!" IRWIM - 3 And tile judge then said; WX can*t accept your plea if you ina!ce it against your better judgment.n But Irwin replied; WX know what I am doing.n Then the judge asked; "JCou realize you willgo to prison?11 Whereupon Irwin broke into shrieks of laughter. As he subsided he said: "X realise I•11 go to prison but X prophecy that before ten years I*11 be out." The Judge then accepted the plea. Unddr the Hew Xork law, there can be only one sentence. Imprisonment for life. auto show My travels In the last few days have deprived me of one pleasure that I look forv/ard to everyyear. I haven»t yet had the chance to see the big National Automobile Show at Grand Central Palace in New Xork. Perhaps you may think it juvenile of me,but I*ve always found each year I got as big a kick out of seeing the show as I did the first year* I have a particular reason for being anxious to get back to see that exhibition before it closes. American cars by and large are so good that it has been difficult for us laymen to pick on anything thqt called for improvement. However, this year there*s one spectacular advance in car design that I noticed today at the Chicago Auto Show. That is, the range of vision tk has been vaatly increased not only in the front, and at the sides, but also in the rear of the cars. There’s more glass than ever in modern automobiles. By the way, I have a telegram from Charles W. Eisler of Altoona, Pennsylvania. He took part in an auto derby of cars of ancient make. Eisler informs us that he drove a Nineteen Fourteen Oakland from Altoona, Pennsylvania to Pittsburgu in three hours and forty minutes, using six gallons of Blue Sunoco. RADIO The radio industry of America must prepare to regulate itself. That's a statement made in Washington today. Rut It wasn't made by government officials. It came from David Sarnoff, president of the Radio Corporation of America. He said it in the course of his testimony at a hearing of the Federal Communications Commission* And he explained that this move must be made by radio in self defense. The following are tils exact words: "The fate of broadcasting In other nations, the attacks on Democracy throughuut the world clearly indicate the necessity for finding a democratic solution for the problem of the American system of broadcasting.” What we need,” said Sarnoff, ”is a solution which on one hand will enable radio to me t its social obligations and on the other hand protect American freedom. The radio industrja must devise a code for itself, a system of self regulation. That” he said, ”Is the democratic way in a democratic country.”