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Britain Protests Slurs on Statesmen; Press Reflects Nation’s Horror at Pogrom

November 13, 1938
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Great Britain today formally protested to Germany against assertions published in the nazi newspaper derangriff yesterday that anthony eden, Winston Churchill and Alfred Duff-Cooper were responsible for the assassination in Paris of a Reich Embassy secretary by a Jew.

Sir George A.D, Ogilvie-Forbes, British Charge d’affaires at Berlin, was instructed to protest energetically in the name of his government. der Angriff, known as the mouthpiece of Reich Propaganda Minister Goebbels, had invoked the personal responsibility of the three British statesmen and former Cabinet members in the murder which launched he new wave of anti-Jewish persecutions in the Reich. “

It was understood in London that Ogilvie-Forbes would point out that since the press in Germany is Government-controlled no such assertions as those made by Der Angriff could have appeared without official approval or at least official permission. under such circumstances the incident violates the chamberlain-Hitler friendship pact of sept. 29, it was understood Ogilvie-Forbes would point out.

Earlier, Sir George had made representations to the German Government to safeguard the interests and property of british Jews in Germany.

The Government, meanwhile, was expected to make a declaration in the House of Commons on Monday with respect to the Nazi pogrom, replying to a question by Major Clement R. Attlee Laborite M.P.

A wave of indignation and horror swept through great Britain today at the pogrom against Jews in Germany yesterday and was fully reflected in all British newspapers, irrespective of political opinion.

The Times, which has been the leading exponent of better British-Reich relations, asserted the nazi attacks on Jews had “disgraced that country.” the news-chronicle branded the violence “contemptible” while the daily telegraph and morning post called it an “orgy of savagery.”

No consideration of foreign policy alleviated the bitter indictments in the british press today. the times indicated that the repercussions may well be contrary to german expectations. “no foreign propagandist bent upon blackening Germany before the eyes of the world,” it said, “could outdo the tale of burning and beating, of blackguardly assaults upon a defenseless and innocent people, which disgraced that country yesterday.”

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