Irish Presbyterians called for rescue of Jewish refugees

Not everyone in Ireland supported the persecution of the Jews in Europe. The following archived Jewish Telegraphic News article, dated July 2, 1939, is a statement made by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland:

A strong resolution protesting against the persecution of Jews by Nazis was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at their annual conference here. The resolution, introduced by the Rev. Professor J.E. Dave states.

“The General Assembly deplore and condemn the continued and even extended persecution of helpless Jewish and semi-Jewish minorities in Central Europe, and invoke God’s blessing on all attempts made to alleviate their misery and discover places of refuge for them in other lands and calls upon members of the Church to remember the great debt to Israel, and the obligations of truth and fellowship which lie upon them in relation to Jews as to all men; and they warn members of the Church that antisemitism itself easily becomes a cloak for the forces that oppose the Christian faith.

“The General Assembly urge H.M. Government, by itself or in concert with other Governments, to come to the rescue of the refugees in their imminent peril by opening more widely avenues of escape; and directs that copies of this resolution be sent to the heads of the Governments of Great Britain, Eire, and Northern Ireland.”