DUbcek back/ - IS he ba^
FORCED TO lOIN RED "ANTIZIONIST" FRONT
Bronfman hailed
lEWISH PHILANTHROPIST THE HERO OF MONTREAL
by Oscar Berson CJN reporter
Charles R. Bronfman, president of House of Seagram Ltd. and son of Canada's veteran Jewish leader Samuel Bronfman, will make the cover story of the September issue of Nouveau Monde. Charles' unusual life story, together with the saga of the Bronfman family, will be featured in North Am-'erica's only French magazine under Jewish auspices for his contribution to abetter understanding among all Quebeckers - Jews, Catholics, Protestants, French or English speaking.
The September issue of Nouveau Monde will appear about the fifteenth of the month. The story of the Bronfmans has been selected, according to the editors, because of the Bronfmans' traditional involvement in the progress and contribu-
tion towards the development of Quebec. (Nouveau Monde is published in Montreal a-rond the fifteenth of every month).
The latest coup of Charles R.Bronfman, which may alter the face of Monbreal, making it a baseball capital, has been his initiative ines-tablishing the M ont real Baseball Club Ltd. of which
he Is chairman. The other head of this historic enterprise, from the point of view of Montreal, is a French Canadian, Paul Beaudry. Because of the construction of Montreal's new baseball team center, an effort will be made to elevate the youth in some slum sections of Montreal and infUse them with a sense of pride in a national league baseball team.
Red Star' raises dual loyalties
London (JCNS) - Vicious attacks on Jews and Judaism, and accusations of dual loyalty have been a recent fea" ture of the Soviet press, prime among them being an article in "Red Star", the Soviet Army daily, which al-
by M.J. NURENBERGER
Socialism
In the darkness of the night that suddenly descended upon Europe and the world, one remains mute, paralyzed. For, to say anything against this niew definition of Socialism — rape plus kidnapping — sounds cynical.
Were I a Czech or Slovak, I should feel like the men and women who reacted to the "sympathy" extended the fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. Those who heard the broadcasts fromoutsideHitler'sEurope, it is told, cursed not their oppressors but friends who, from a distance, were "so sorry".
* * * ♦
I can see the people of this golden city of Prague, perhaps the most civilized capital in the world — to a Jew, the city of Rabbi Loew (Mahral) and Franz Kafka —, who. in their despair, resemble one of Kafka's characters: he who does not know why he is on trial.
If Roosevelt was outsmarted by Stalin in 1944 into a divi^ sion of Europe and the world, why should the Czechoslovaks have to pay for it? They may not claim the same rights to sovereignty as the inhabitants of South Yemen or Nigeria or Zambia; but certainly they are entitled to equal rights with the Congolese. •
What transpired now in Czechoslovakia goes back to the endofWorldWarll. .
I remember an afternoon in 1945 in Pilsen, the famous beer city, where I was told for the first time how this dividing line between East and West works.
The Americans arrived in Prague before the Russians. Yet they had to retreat and leave the Nazis for two weeks more so that the Russians could "liberate" the capital of Bohemia. What the Gestapo did in that fortnight now is recorded history.
,■.■*.'•■ ■',*'. , *
However, all these expressions of solidarity with the Czechoslovak nation smarting under the knout of an invader for the third time in thirty years would hot be so difficult to digest were theynotaccompanieidbyattkcksagainstthe Uhit-ed States.
I cannot appireciate the mentality of a responsible Canadian editorial writer who dares compare Washington to Moscow. I can understand the thinking of a Tommy Douglas who tries to preserve Ws"Socialist'' image by stating that both the United States ind Russia equally are to blame. Mr. Douglas follows in the steps of Pierre Mendes France, who lost all the progressive, democratic, but anti-Communist votes in France because he flattered the Communist conspiracy.
Something is wrong with some Socialists here when they forget that no Cpmmuhisf regime ever was voted in but imposed by force.;
The Czechs never elected the Communists; neither did the Poles/ the Hungarians—not even the Russians. So whoni dpes Mr. Douglas fool when he enjoys the freedom to utter political nonsense only because our neighbor to the south Is this great, free country we all criticize but, thanks to which, we still are far from Castro, Ulbricht and Birezhnev?
This is a time for serious thought and repentance. Politicians should not be afraild to say they made a mistake.
Writers who compare U.S. involvement in Vietnam, where Washington originally Intervened upon the official Invitation of a Itgal government — no rnatter how one may look upon the present state of affairs there—, ought be ashamed to equate the rape of a country, tlie kidnapping of Its leaders, to Johiison^s^oft repeated and unquestioned position: to let the Vlettfkmese of alHactlons, together, elect a government
/True, we must liye with Kussla. And no one should jump Into a nuclear war without probing all means to coexist. But, for goodness'\sake, l^t us not fall victim to a new Communist line on Czechoslovakia which Is repeated Innocently by npn-Communlst llberkls: that both the Utdted States and the ivlet Union ^e equally guilty of imperialism, ; The United States guards the ramparts of the world still frei^ Let no ope'forget It lest we undermine our own free-, dom/--^: '.^ •■'
most never attacks specific religions or accuses any ethnic group of collective crimes, the JCNS Special Correspondent on East European Affairs writes.
The renewed accusations of dual loyalty have clear implications for Soviet Jewry and must increase the concern over their situation.
"The religious morality of -Judaism/-' declared- '^Red Star'V "Isplateis religious Jews from other nations and justifies any crime against Gentiles", a statementrem-iniscent of antlsemitic writr ings the world over.
FABRICATED STORY
The Soviet Army's political Section, headed by General A. Yepishev, Is responsible for the editing of "Red Star". At the time of the so-called "Doctors' Plot", in 1953 (when a group of Jewish doctors was accused of plotting to poison Soviet leaders) he was Deputy Minister of State Security, and one of the men behind the fabrication of the whole story.
The article also accuses "the Zionist imperialist agencies in New York and Tel Aviv", of "disseminating the libel of alleged persecution - of Jews in the Soviet Union", declaring that it "is unnecessary to deny such fabrications ..; Zionism and anti-Semitism are both ialien to Soviet society, since they are the product of the bourgeois class system".
"Komsomolskaya Prav-da", the Young Communist League i)aper, which has a long tradition of antlsemitic articles, added its voice to "Red Star's" diatribe, describing the Anieriban Joint Distribution Committee as an espionage agency.
The paper said that when the"Joint" was operating In Poland (It was closed down there In December of last year) it spent considerable sums of money on spying activities. "
meet In
New York (JCNS) - Representatives of the Catholic Church and a nuniber of rabbis and lay Jews In Latin America on Wednesday ended near . Bogota, Colombia, a two-day meeting called to seekxooperatlon and understanding of the two faiths, according to a dispatch to the New York Times.
It is believed here that this Is the first time that relations between Catholics and Jews in South America have been discussed on the official level.
Those attending tlie'meet-ing included Cardinal Silvan Henrlquez, the^ Primate of Chile, official^ of the con^ ferience of Latin American bishops, a group of f abbls and officials of the B'nal B'rlth Antl-Defamatlon League.";
Charles Bronfman, like his father, uncle and brothers, always has been interested in all segments of the population of Quebec. The fact that Montreal's baseball stadium will be located in the predominantly French language section of the city will contribute towards creating a healthier climate of understanding a-mong all Quebeckers. Charles Bronfman's selection as chair man of Montreal Baseball Club certainly is a great distinction for a Jew, Montrealers say. It augurs weU for the future as the new generation in all communities begins to assume an active role ofleadership in Canada's largest city. Charles Bronfman, like his semlretired father, is not a politician and refuses to be involved In politics. The Bronfmans' interests are service to the community. In the Jewish community, the Bronfman clan Id know for its enormous cont^ibiitlons to Israel whil6 supporting every important Catholic and Protestant initiative in Quebec (Canada In general). Nouveau Monde will stress especially the contribution of the Bronfmans to the development of French culture, particularly the arts, without any involvement in political areas.
In Israel, Charles Bronfman recently has become known for the successful rescue-operation of Super-Sol, a supermarket chain, a business miraclehe performed together with his Toronto friend, Ray D. Wolfe, president of Gshawa Wholesale Ltd,
Above, Prof. Eduard Goldstuecker, Jewish leader of Czechoslovakia's intellectuals. At right, Dubceli, Sinrkovsky and Cernik back from Russian !captivity, but still under Soviet knout.
h\j\c\\eT of Prague
The most hated man in Prague: Soviet Marshall Yakoubosski, Commander of the Soviet troops, who invaded Czechoslovakia last week and forced the government to accept a Moscow diktat.
CONGERN ABOUT CZECH lEWS IN
ISRAEL, THE WEST
by the CJN diplomatic editor
Czechoslovak Communist Party leader is back a week after his kidnapping by the Russian Government. But is he back in power? With Soviet armies remaining in the Sudetenland, will Dubcek be able to continue as head of a liberal regime?
The tragedy of the rieo-Stalinist takeover of Czechoslovakia spells the actual finis to the remnants of the organized Jewish community there. Although only 14,000 Jews remain in the country, the communities in Prague, Bratislava and Kosice have been active to a certain degree up to last week.
Diplomatic sources report from Moscow that one of the main points in the diktat of the Soviet leaders to the kidnapped Czech governrnent representatives during the Moscow "negotiations" was the demand to end"Zionist" activities. In Moscow's jargon, this means a complete end to any Jewish expression and reducing the Prague and Bratislava conimunities to shadows in the Moscow manner.
One of the outstanding Czech Jews to have been arrested by the Russians is Prof. Eduard Goldstuecker, leader of the liberal, intellectual revolution and a former Czech ambassador to Israel. Goldsteucker's fate is unknown at the closing of this issue and ^i|..JB, c^iusing much cgnpern to his friends '^bWad. He had--been threatened publicly by the Novotny forces that the day of reckoning would come for him.
Ota Sik, Deputy Vice Premier, was in Yugoslavia during the invasion and this Jewish economic leader of Czechoslovak liberalism is not expected to return to Prague under present conditions. Premier Cernik, reported to be a Jew by a Toronto daily, is not of Jewish origin.
The Joint Distribution Committee in Vienna has begun registering all Czechoslovaks stranded outside the country who need aid.
WHAT NOW?
THE AFTERMATH OF TRAGEDY
NEW YORK (Special) r-Forty-two Czech Jews applied for assistance to Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) offices and associated agencies In Austria and Germany, in the first 24 hours after the Russian talce-over In Czechoslovakia, It was reported by Samuel L. Haber, Executive Vice-Chalrman of the JDC, the major North American agency aiding Jews overseas (subsidized also by Toronto's UJA).
Those who applied for assistance, Mr. Haber indicated, were among the thousands of C zech tourists who found themselves outside their country when Russian troops moved acrpSs the border., Many others are apparently waiting for further developments, Mr. Haber said, before deciding to ask for welfare, migration or other ais-
slstance. In all likelihood, he added, as tourists they ?till have sufficient funds to carry On for at least a limited period without requiring financial aid.
"All JDC offices and cooperating groups throughout Europe have been instructed to provide emergency and other help to any Czech Jew who iapplies," Mr. Haber said, "just as thousands of Hungarian Jews received
such assistance after the revolt there in 1956."
Mr. Hab6r reported that there are still about 15,000 Jews in Czechoslovakia. The Joint Distribution Committee, which receives the bulk of its funds from the United Jewish Appeal, has not had a program in Czechoslovakia since 1948, shortly after the Communist take-^over, when it was asked to termiiiatei its programs in that country.
Scapegoat
in
London (JCNS) - What happens next in Czechoslovakia depends very much on how the Czech workers and the intensely nationalist Slovaks react to the return of the
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conservatives whose rein? statement is the prime purpose of the Soviet Invasion and occupation, the JCNS Special Correspondent on East European Affairs reports.
Once the Russians have secured their physical control of the country, they will be faced with: a. choice between two courses: . The creation of an absolute police State (In which. If previous behavior is' any guide, Jews wUl provide the major scapegoats for "past mistakes"); or the establishment of a regime such as that imposed in Hungary aftier the 1956 uprising, in which gradual and cpntroll-ed liberalization on minor issues goes hand-In-hand with strict adherence to the Kremlin lIne-on:;niajor, matters of policy. \
First, though, the Russians will probably want to settle their accounts with the -leading "-liberalizers", .. Prime among these is likely to be Professor Ota Sik, the Deputy Prime Minister, who Is of Jewish origin. He has been under fh:e from the Soviet press for his economic reform measures, which were the primary issue in the Soviet-Czech confronta-
IN DANGER ■ But many more Czech Jews (there are estimated to be about 14,000 in the country) are in danger. A number were prominent In the liberalization movement particularly In the writers' and artists' committees which spurred the Government to new refer mSi
What they face can .be: sensed from a letter revealed In the Czech Communist Party dally; "Rude Pravp", on June 23. The letter was sent by a member of the Novotny faction to Professor Eduard Goldstuecker, the chairman of the Czechosloviak Writers' Association, who revealed its-contents.
After accusing the professor of being engaged In espionage, the writer warn-
cover your real physiognomy
' "You want to rule not only in Israel, as Zionists^ you strive for .world domination, and In this respect you may shake hands with Hitler .... That Is why honest party meml)ers, workers and our mllltla. have a plan to end your madness. Television and the radio will be taken away from the Jews and given back to the workers."
Eshkol Cabinet
Tel Aviv (JCNS) - Israel's. Immediate reaction to events
In Czechoslovakia was to see a strengthening of the hardliners in the Kremlin and: to interpret the Soviet invasion as undermining any reliance that might have been put on a Russian guarantee of a Middle East settlement.
A number of young Czechs visiting Israel have decided not to return home for the time being.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Levi Eshkol, summoned a Cabinet meeting at the coastal resort where he is holidaying. Mr. Israel Galili, the Information Minister, said events in Czechoslovakia were "bound to have repercussions in the Middle East."
ed:
"We possess photographs and other material and. in due course, we shall put them at the disposal of the relevant authorities, principally in the. Soviet Union, where steps will be taken oh an international level to un-
At tha u
Nations.-!sraoll Ambassador TeHoah and
U.S. Ambassador Ball discuss Czech situation after suddan Interruption of debate following Dubcek\ "acceptance" of Mosct^Wdeal.