CHAMBERLAIN WARNS NAZIS FORCE IN DANZIG MEANS WAR (5/12/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 5/12/39 | Robert P. Post

[Homer_J_Simpson]

If you would like to be added to or deleted from the Real Time +/- 70 Years ping list, send me a freepmail. You can also search for these articles by the keyword realtime, going back to the first one on January 27, 2008. These articles are posted on the 70th anniversary of their original publication date. See my profile for additional information.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

. . . [O]n May 12 the Anglo-Turkish Agreement was formally ratified by the Turkish Parliament. By means of this addition to our commitments we hoped to strengthen our position in the Mediterranean in the event of a crisis. Here was our answer to the Italian occupation of Albania. Just as the period of talking with Germany was over, so now we reached in effect the same deadlock with Italy.

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Well, your series is coming down the homestretch in the pre-WWII period. The Axis is created in ten days, and the end of August starts the bloodbath. Interesting seeing that things are not much more ominous at this point than it seems today.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Alas, the Boston teams both lost their leads this week.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Nothing for today except the standings as of 5/13/39 at #4.

[MinuteGal]

In the small article datelined "Rome", does anyone know what the "racist measures" to be "firmly carried out" were? The article states that the measures "had been inspired by biological, political and even religious necessities".

Sounds very ominious. Were these measures the beginning of Italo/fascist anti-semitism?

Leni

[Homer_J_Simpson]

In the small article datelined "Rome", does anyone know what the "racist measures" to be "firmly carried out" were?

I don't know what measures Under Secretary Guidi Guidi-Baffarini was referring to. I would guess the word "racist" is the reporter's synonym for "anti-Semitic" and not an official term. Herman Wouk's books suggest Italy was not terribly dangerous for Jews prior to September 1939 but the signs were there.

From the end of this article:

". . . the people believe in Mussolini, who has given them order, well-being, dignity and prestige and who is always right."

Who would have thought it would take another seventy years before the U.S. would elect a leader of this calibre.

[PAR35]

does anyone know what the "racist measures" to be "firmly carried out" were?

The "Charter of Race" was enacted in July 1938. It declared Italians to be Aryans and established laws which restricted Jews and Africans. (Prior to this, Jews had been welcome members of the Fascist movement.)

I would guess that this statement was linked to a campaign to implement the laws, although it may have just been verbiage to appease their new partners.

[PAR35]

Here’s an anecdotal reference to the 1939 campaign:

“Balbo visited Genoa in 1939, while the anti-Semitic campaign was taking place. Teglio, along with his wife, parents, brother, sisters, and many others flooded the streets to greet Balbo as he flew into Genoa’s harbor by hydroplane. When he came ashore, Balbo spotted Teglio and motioned him to come over. After warmly shaking his hand, Balbo asked Teglio, “Is there anyone else here from your family?” “They’re all here!” Teglio responded. Before the crowd of several hundred, Balbo made a point of greeting the family of his Jewish friend first. “Afterward,” Teglio recalled, “I asked Balbo’s copilot, ‘He knows I’m Jewish, doesn’t he?’ and the copilot responded, ‘He did it intentionally.’”
http://www.acjna.org/acjna/articles_detail.aspx?id=300

[MinuteGal]

Thanks both of you for the additional information.

Leni