Part 33 (1/2)
On July 28, 1943, the Bishop of Chichester strongly supported the plea for urgent government action in a speech in the House of Lords which was very critical of official policy and action. He contended that:
”...in the matter of the systematic ma.s.s murder of the Jews in the n.a.z.i- occupied territories of Europe, which was the reason why the Bermuda Conference was called, there has been a deterioration in the determination to grapple with the problem.”
After quoting earlier promises made on behalf of the Government, he criticized the achievement of this Conference.
”...On April 19-29 the Bermuda Conference took place. It began in a spirit of pessimism. Its official p.r.o.nouncement at the end said that the delegates 'had examined the refugee problem in all its aspects'. The Jews were not mentioned. Agreed confidential recommendations were made which were designed to lead to the relief of a substantial number of refugees of all races and nationalities. Not a word was said about 'temporary asylum'...”
Particularly the Bishop emphasized the obligation to give priority to the persecuted Jews, and the responsibility of both neutral countries and of the Allied Governments to find temporary asylum for Hitler's victims.
”... It is in the face of this systematic murder, especially in the last twelve months, that I and so many others plead with the Government to act in a new way. With the appeal of the stricken people ringing in our ears, we would be false to our tradition if we failed to do everything we can.” [549]
e. Towards the End
As far as we know, few statements were issued during the last period of the war. Significant was the Archbishop of Canterbury's warning, on Dec. 8, 1943, that ”the sufferings of the Jews be kept in full view of all people so that the spirit of indignation and compa.s.sion in them will not die out”. <254>
”It is one of the most terrible consequences of war that the sensitiveness of people tends to become hardened, ”Dr.Temple said. ”We could hardly live these days if we felt the volume of suffering of others in the world as acutely as we felt in peacetime”.
”There is a great moral danger in the paralysis of feeling that is liable to be brought about. It is most important for our own moral health and vigor that we express horror at the persecution of the Jews.”
Dr. Temple said the persecution of Jews on the Continent, and particularly in Poland, ”almost baffles imagination and leaves one horrified at the power of the evil that can show itself in human nature.” [550]
Another warning came from the General a.s.sembly of the Church of Scotland (May, 1944):
”The General a.s.sembly express their profound sorrow at the lamentable condition of the Jews in Europe, and in the name of Christ renew their reprobation of the inhuman atrocities committed against them.
They a.s.sure the Jews of their deep concern and sympathy, commend them to the brotherly offices and prayerful compa.s.sion of all Christian men and women, and warn the members of the Church of Scotland against the growing danger of anti-Jewish prejudice and propaganda.
They respectfully urge the Government to continue to offer every facility to enable refugees to escape from the tyranny and oppression of n.a.z.ism.” [551]
In June, 1944, the Archbishop of Canterbury, presiding at a meeting of the Council of Christians and Jews, denounced the continued persecution and attempted extermination of the Jews by the Germans, whose activities he described as ”one of the most hideous of the elements even in the recent German record”.
Dr. Temple moved a resolution expressing concern at the increasing peril to the Jewish communities involved in the extension of n.a.z.i domination in Central and South Eastern Europe, coupled with satisfaction at the steps taken in North Africa and southern Italy to remove all discriminatory legislation against Jews and other victims of n.a.z.i intolerance.
He and many others, he said, had been disappointed that there had not been a greater willingness shown on the part of the authorities to help those who were trying to escape from German-dominated countries... [552] <255>
On July 7, 1944, the Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the following message to Hungary through the B.B.C.:
”I am eager to speak to the Christian people of Hungary, so far as I can do so, because of news sent to me through one of the most reliable of ecclesiastical neutral sources - and what I hear from that source only confirms what is reported also through other channels. The report is that a wholesale round-up of Hungarian Jews is taking place under orders from the German Government, and that those who are carried off have little chance of survival.
According to this report, the Jews are being deported daily. Already the Eastern provinces have been cleared of Jews. Now the process is beginning in the Western districts including the capital. The conditions of travel are such that on arrival many already are dead; others are killed and cremated at Auschwitz.
If the Christians of Hungary know the facts I am perfectly confident that they are also doing everything they can to save these doomed people by hiding them and helping them to escape. But it may be that inside Hungary the facts are concealed.
It is for this reason that I feel bound to tell you of them, and beg you to do your utmost, even taking great personal risks, in order to save some if you can.
Then you will earn in very special degree the words of approval and thanks: 'In as much as ye did it unto one of these My brethren ye did unto Me'
(Matthew, 25, 40). I speak as a Christian who cannot help to Christians who can. For the honour of our common Christianity I implore you to do your utmost.” [553]
34 THE UNITED STATES
a. The Time of America's ”Neutrality”
It would have been possible to record the statements in this paragraph under ”The Neutral Countries”. The United States officially entered into the war in December, 1941. j.a.pan attacked Pearl Harbour on Dec. 7 and Hitler declared war upon the United States, on Dec. 11, 1941. Until that time, it was at least pretended that the United States was neutral and the spirit of isolationism was still strong.
Before 1942, strong statements against anti-Semitism were issued by Protestant Churches in the U.S.A., especially by the Federal Council of Churches. After Hitler's declaration of war, however, the statements took on an additional clarity: ”Anybody spreading anti-Semitism is helping Hitler just as much as if he were a paid agent of the Reich.” [554] Anti-Semitism became ”treason against G.o.d, treason against the country.” [555]
<256> On the evening of December 14, 1939, a ma.s.s meeting was held at Madison Square Garden, New York, for the purpose of registering a protest against the treatment of the Jews in Poland and other areas under the n.a.z.i regime.
The meeting was attended by 20,000 people.
Expressing the sympathy of Christians, Dr. Samuel McCrea Cavert, General Secretary of the Federal Council of Churches, pointed out, that Christians as well as Jews were suffering in Poland and other parts of Europe and that ”Christians have a direct stake in what is happening”. In conclusion, he said:
”Out of the calamity in Europe, there emerges one by-product for which we may be thankful - the new sense of fellows.h.i.+p between Jew and Christian in America. Nothing so quickly unites men as a cry of desperate human need.
I do not believe there has ever been a time when Christian hearts in America beat in such sympathy for their Jewish neighbours. There are differences of religious conviction between Jew and Christian - at one point a momentous difference - but we share together the priceless spiritual heritage of Israel.
As His Holiness Pope Pius XI truly and n.o.bly said, 'Spiritually we are all Semites'.” [556]