The Morgan Matter

It began as just another brass hat's press conference. UNRRA's boss in Germany, Lieut. General Sir Frederick Edgworth Morgan, wanted to discuss a problem: the thousands of Jews who were streaming out of Poland into Germany.

Next day's newspapers quoted Morgan as saying: "They certainly do not look like persecuted people. [They are] well dressed, well-fed, rosy-cheeked, and have plenty of money. ... I believe they have a plan ... to get out of Europe. ..."

That did it. Professional protesters cleared their throats and gave tongue. As the hysteria mounted and the astonished General shinnied up the nearest tree, the angry clamor drowned out the less exciting things, that Morgan had also said. Prominent Jews shrieked: "Savors of Naziism . . . palpably anti-Semitic ... an outrageous libel. . . ." Comedian Eddie Cantor bought two full columns of advertising space in the New York Times (price: $660) to shout in 12-point type:

HITLER [HAS] COME BACK TO LIFE!

New York's Senator Robert Wagner accused the British Government of conducting an "insidious, worldwide" campaign against the Jews. Manhattan's professionally crusading tabloid PM gave the matter 22 columns in five days. Other boldface papers and emotional radio voices helped to swell the wolfpack cry.

Facts & Fancies. The inaudible facts were simple. It was true that the Jews were fleeing Poland--fleeing the memories of past terror and the reality of present hardship. It seemed true that Zionist "underground railroads" were helping them. It was not true that most of the refugees were well-fed or rosy-cheeked.

As for General Morgan, he was an able administrator and officer (as deputy chief of staff to General Eisenhower, he had helped plan the Normandy invasion), but he sometimes talked too much. Said a correspondent: "His foot and his mouth have a great affinity." UNRRA asked him to resign. Morgan refused.

Just as another fact was becoming apparent--that, as they often did, the Jews were doing their cause considerable damage by their loud and violent outcries--the payoff was delivered by Lionel Sebastian Berk Shapiro, correspondent for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Cabled Shapiro, a Jew, who had been present at the conference:

Morgan had tried to present a "sober inventory" of the situation. "The statements now widely quoted [made during a chatty question-and-answer period] were qualified by other remarks that indicated his sympathy and concern for European Jews. . .. Both journalism and Jewry have . . . wildly interpreted and elaborated on [his] remarks. . . ."

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