File MS-2-232, Box 1, Folder 51 - New York World-Telegram

File contains typed correspondence written, on The Protestant letterhead, by Kenneth Leslie on February 14, 1944, and sent to the editor of the New York World-Telegram. File addresses Leslie's request for print space to respond to articles previously submitted by a Mr. Woltman (February 7, 8, and 9, 1944 issues), and Woltman's "smear attack" assertion that "The Protestant, its Textbook Commission to Eliminate Anti-Semitic Statements in American Textbooks, and myself, as being 'anti-Jewish,' 'anti-Catholic' and unofficial apologists for Communism." Leslie differentiates between Woltman's assertion of Leslie's attacks on Catholicism, calling them rather "taking issue with the political activities of the Vatican and its emissaries". He responds to the "anti-Jewish" assertion stating that the attacks were on the American Jewish Committee "which does not represent the Jews of America". He also reasserts "The Protestant"'s policy of
attacking Fascism here and abroad, irrespective of whether its sponsorship be Protestant, Catholic or Jewish". He finishes by defending accusations of anti-Semitism levied against Pierre van Paassen, Johannes Steel, and Joseph Brainin (fellow editor of The Protestant), stating that "the accuser must be pitied for having exposed his ignorance--or malice--so flagrantly" by accusing "a man of the stature of Pierre van Paassen, whom the Jews in this country, in Europe and in Palestine have come to regard as their greatest champion, [of anti-Semitism]".