Source: E. L. Woodward ed. Documents of British Foreign Policy Second Series, Vol. V, (London 1956).
Subsequent to March 1933 Elections
Source: E. L. Woodward, Documents of British Foreign Policy Second Series Vol. 5, (London 1956) p. 19-20
Sir H. Rumbold to Sir J. Simon Berlin 5 April 1933
...Since the elections of the 5th of March steps have been taken to secure the removal or suspension of Jews and of political opponents from all positions of authority, influence or prominence.... As regards actual maltreatment, such cases occurred chiefly during the first fortnight in March. It is difficult to form an estimate of the numbers involved, and the official attitude is that as there has been an actual revolution in Germany, the number of victims is surprisingly small as compared with the cases incidental to most revolutions. A number of prominent leaders and adherents of the Left parties were arrested, others disappeared and others were reported to have been killed. Reports of brutal ill-treatment, kidnapping and even assassination of Communists and Jews became current. Rumours of all kinds were in circulation, and it became extremely difficult to obtain accurate information. There is good reason to believe that Jewish politicians and lawyers in particular suffered severely, and many outrages were reported in the German press and reproduced in the foreign press....
On the Popularity of Boycott
Source: E. L. Woodward ed. Documents of British Foreign Policy Second Series, Vol. V, (London 1956) p. 38.
Sir H. Rumbold (Berlin) to Sir J. Simon (Received April 21) No. 378 [C 3594/319/18] Berlin, April 13 1933
Sir, With reference to my dispatch No 329 of the 5th April, I have the honour to report that, so far as I am in a position to judge, the Jewish boycott on the 1st April has not been popular throughout the country. On the other hand, there has been no noteworthy revulsion of feeling in favour of the Jews, and while the government continue to put their anti-Jewish policy into effect the National Socialist party continue to maltreat and persecute individual Jews. The apathy or the lack of sympathy on the part of the public is only comprehensible when the background, and especially the remoter historical background, is kept in view, and when the developments since the war are borne in mind.... [The rest of the document gives the history of the Jews in Germany, explaining the reasons for the hatred against them, stressing their enormous economic power....]
