Argentine President Juan Peron’s pledge to the Jewish community in this country that no anti-Semitism would be allowed in Argentina during his tenure of office was greeted here today “by the DAIA, central representative body of Argentine Jewry. The DAIA also expressed the hope that the Argentine Government would soon recognize the state of Israel.
The local Jewish press, in hailing Peron’s address to an estimated 30,000 persons in the heart of this city’s Jewish quarter, pointed out that the President’s speech was made in circumstances that could well be regarded as extraordinary, Peron participated in the dedication ceremonies of the new offices of the pro-Peron “Organization Israelita Argentina,” the first time — it was noted — that an Argentine President has visited the offices of a Jewish organization.
President Peron was applauded when he appealed to his audience, inviting Argentine Jews not to “isolate” themselves from any form of national life, but on the contrary to participate fully in the country’s affairs and avail themselves of all their civic rights. As he concluded, the crowd demanded that the First lady also speak. Senora Peron denounced the previous national administrations which she accused of instigating race-hatred. She said she did not make any distinction between Jews and non-Jews.
Foreign Secretary Juan Bramuglia was among a large group of Argentine officials who shared the balcony with the Peron and Dr. Pablo Mangel, secretary of the O.I.A. The listeners, assembled long before the appointed hour, waved Argentine and Israeli flags throughout the ceremony.
Dr. Mangel’s speech stressed the courage of the Israelis in resisting Arab attacks and asserted that Israel, by guaranteeing the survival of the Jewish people, allowed Argentine Jews to become more closely a part of Argentine life. He emphasized to the press, after the meeting, that in the last Parliamentary election, the government ticket received more Jewish votes than any other slate. He also praised the government for freeing several Jews who had entered the country illegally.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
