A Protocol of 1919

"A Protocol of 1919" is an antisemitic section in the "APPENDIX" of a greatly expanded English language imprint of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion", first published in 1934, on or about June, by the Patriotic Publishing Co. operating from a post office box in Chicago, Illinois. It occurs on pages 297 to 299 of the book - in the closing three page, in fact (page 300 is the index). It is published in support of a conspiracy theory about Jews.

It purports to be a reproduction of a reproduction of a secret document. The claim is made that on February 5 1920 a Russian newspaper in Berlin, "Prizyv", published "an interesting document" dated December 1919. It was allegedly in Hebrew, and "was found in the pocket of the dead Jew Zunder, the Bolsheciv Commander of the 11th Sharp-shooter Battalion".

The alleged document is retyped and reproduced on less than 2 1/2 pages. It begins with the all-capitals, effective salutation, "SECRET." It ends with "Signed, The Central Committee of the Petersburg Branch of the Israelite International League."

The alleged document consists of 11 short paragraphs, three of which are one sentence long, and two are two sentences long.

This document consists of vague antisemitic generalizations, and eight admonitions to be "careful" or "cautious."

There is in it only one substantial factual sentence, opening the eight paragraph (p. 298), but it consists merely of " [Name-dropping|dropping [five apparently historical] names] " - for the purpose of rendering a flattering exclamation, but in fact operates to discredit and libel the individuals by labeling them "Jews":

"Bronstein (Trotsky), Apfelbaum (Zinovieff), Rosenfeld (Kameneff), Steinberg — all of them are like unto thousands of other true sons of Israel. Our power in Russia is unlimited. In the towns, the Commissariates and Commissions of Food, Housing Commissions, etc., are dominated by our people. But do not let victory intoxicate yourselves. Be careful, cautious, because no one except yourselves will protect us!"

Walter Laqueur finds this kind of reportage to be "typical":

The German right-wing extremist press was supplied for years with information first published in "Prizyv" during its nine months of existence.* The following typical story should suffice: At the time of an armed clash between Red Army units on the Estonian border, a letter had been found in the pocket of Sundel, the commander of the Russian unit; this was said to be a circular directed to the heads of departments of the international Jewish organization ('The Sons of Israel') informing them that the hour of victory was near. 'We are on the eve of world domination.'28 --Walter Laqueur, "Russia and Germany" (1965), p. 119

References

* [Anonymous] :Translated from the Russian by Victor E. Marsden:Formerly Russian Correspondent of "The Morning Post":"The Protocols of the Meetings of the Learned Elders of Zion,:With Preface and Explanatory Notes.:(Chicago: The Patriotic Publishing Co., 1934):NYPL "Call #": *ZP-498

ee also

*Morning Post
*Patriotic Publishing Co.
*Protocols of Zion
*Victor E. Marsden

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