June 1, 2022 • 25 mins
The biggest names in Hollywood and Broadway recorded for AFRS during the war years, The American Forces Network can trace its origins back to May 26, 1942, when the War Department established the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS). The U.S. Army began broadcasting from London during World War II, using equipment and studio facilities borrowed from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The first transmission to U.S. troops began at 5:45 p.m. on July 4, 1943, and included less than five hours of recorded shows, a BBC news and sports broadcast. That day, Corporal Syl Binkin became the first U.S. Military broadcasters heard over the air. The signal was sent from London via telephone lines to five regional transmitters to reach U.S. troops in the United Kingdom as they prepared for the inevitable invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Fearing competition for civilian audiences the BBC initially tried to impose restrictions on AFN broadcasts within Britain (transmissions were only allowed from American Bases outside London and were limited to 50 watts of transmission power) and a minimum quota of British produced programming had to be carried. Nevertheless AFN programmes were widely enjoyed by the British civilian listeners who could receive them and once AFN operations transferred to continental Europe (shortly after D-Day) AFN were able to broadcast with little restriction with programmes available to civilian audiences across most of Europe (including Britain) after dark. As D-Day approached, the network joined with the BBC and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to develop programs especially for the Allied Expeditionary Forces. Mobile stations, complete with personnel, broadcasting equipment, and a record library were deployed to broadcast music and news to troops in the field. The mobile stations reported on front line activities and fed the news reports back to studio locations in London.
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Entertainment Radio Stations Live 24/7 Sherlock Holmes/CBS Radio Mystery Theater
https://live365.com/station/Sherlock-Holmes-Classic-Radio--a91441
https://live365.com/station/CBS-Radio-Mystery-Theater-a57491
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Entertainment Radio Stations Live 24/7 Sherlock Holmes/CBS Radio Mystery Theater
https://live365.com/station/Sherlock-Holmes-Classic-Radio--a91441
https://live365.com/station/CBS-Radio-Mystery-Theater-a57491
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
This is the story stories of people, of nations, of the world of
yesterday and to day, and themeaning they hold for tomorrow. Somehow it
(01:02):
was more terrible at night, moreterrible and more beautiful. The trace of
bullets would stitch a quick seam offlame up into the sky, and the
incendiaries and the bombs spilled down likebeads from a broken string. That's how
(01:23):
it was. The Knights of Maytenth and May leventh, nineteen forty one,
when the Luftwaffa was over London,Uncle Nathan died the first night.
There was a neat hole through thetop of his helmet. He'd been on
(01:46):
air aid duty over at Duke's Place, just outside the Great Synagogue, aolir
lor cave he stove. Man.Sooner or later a man must die,
(02:36):
and there are worse ways of dying, and from the shell fragment of the
scowl. If please understand me,I'm not a hero, but there are
worse things than dying, like seeingthe roof the Great Synagogue go up in
flames, and seeing a boat offire fall on the arc that holds the
(02:59):
Holy scrows. Are the Holy scrollsstill there? I don't know, I
know that the synagogue stands naked tothe wind, the roof gutted, the
walls charred, the pews where Isat and my father sat, and his
(03:20):
father before him, nothing but agray feather of ash. I am sorry
for that. That pew had ahistory a hundred years ago, Sir David
Salomon's set in that pew. Pleasedon't misunderstand me. It's not important that
(03:42):
Sir David was once Lord Mayor ofLondon, or that he was the brother
in law of Moses Montefiore. It'smore important that he was an upright man.
And yet in the days of QueenVictoria, May she rest in peace,
Sir David Salomon's was aroused by something. I'm not going to wait any
(04:03):
more, amos. No, no, I'm not going to wait. I'm
not going to pussyfoot. I'm notgoing to hold my hat in my hand
and ask for favors, save yourspeeches for your constituency. That's exactly what
I'm going to do. I see. Then you're going to stand for Parliament
again, That's what I mean.It isn't wise, Sir David. Why
not? Because it isn't wise.Now that's no answer. You know,
(04:25):
the answer, you're a Jew.No Jew has ever sat in parliament,
Amos. A few years ago,no Catholic sat in parliament. That's different,
Sir David. You will be attackedbecause you're a Jew. The Catholics
were attacked because they were Catholics.The same civil disabilities applied to them.
They fought against it. And that'swhat we have to do. Perhaps you
(04:46):
stood for Parliament twice already, threetimes so much worse you lost each time.
This time I won'ts all right,suppose you win, well, they
won't seat you exactly, but Iam going to oblige them to say why
they won't seat me. I've toldyou why let them tell me. They'll
tell you you're a jewel Amos.I'm running for office as an Englishman.
(05:08):
So David, you're going to getinto trouble, thanks, Amos. It
seems to me that's a risk Ihave to take. Sir David Henry,
(05:31):
stop the carriage. I thought Irecognize your carriage. Lady Russell. Can
I drive you somewhere? It's verykind of you to ask, but it's
the Sabbaths, you know. Ohyes, of course you don't ride on
Saturdays. Nor will you talk alittle politics. Well, it's not what
I shouldn't do today. I hearyou're going to stand for Grienwage. That's
(05:54):
true, don't it's a Tory stronghold. No liberal has a chance. But
I'm already committed. Lady Russell.Too bad, you're sure. I can't
take you anywhere. Thank you,Lady Russell. I'm going to the synagogue
on Duke's Place. I'll walk,David, I want to see you,
(06:28):
Yes, Rabbi, come in herewhere we can be alone. Are you
going to scold me too? Whydo you want to do this foolish thing?
David? Is it foolish to wantto serve your country? Christian?
Is you want to serve your countryor yourself? I don't know what that
(06:51):
means. Rabbi, we read aservice chapter from pere K August. Today.
I repeat it for you. Seenot greatness for thyself, and caught
not honor. Let thy works exceedthy learning, and crave not after the
table of kings, for thy tableis greater than theirs, and thy employer
(07:15):
is faithful to pay thee the rewardof thy work. I don't want greatness,
Rabbi, I don't crave the tableof kings, and what are you
after? Not long ago a Jewcould not vote. I resented that,
so did I as an Englishman.But now we can vote, so I
complain, we still can't sit inparliament as if rankful. So much very
(07:42):
much, Rabbi, I'm quite willingto be barred from Parliament because I am
incompetent. But I won't be barredbecause the Tories don't admit Catholics, Quakers,
Separatists and Jews. Only others arenow admitted. David autermll come in
time. In time is too long. Now is the time? The time
(08:03):
is always now, Rabbin. You'reright, David. That's the only reason
why I want to run, towipe out the humiliation, this humiliation not
only to us but to England.I believe you and I place you,
David. But remember something. Yes, you're an Englishman, but you're also
Adieu. Whatever you do, whateveryou say, must be done and said
(08:26):
for the sake of righteousness. Youmust be an example, David. Your
daughters allow, mister Kennedy, buthow are you voting the poor Relief bill?
Yes right, David's Suliman's how areyou, belle? I'll tell you
(08:48):
how he'll vote. He's a toughfight. The rest he didn't see in
this blooming fight. Ah shut up, welcomes another speaker. How do you
stand? Said David. I'm forthe bill. What wait, but a
poor relief bill is essentially charity here, you see, he's against a wilk.
You see, charity is part ofmy religion. Every Jew must give
part of what he earns to charity. But we don't misunderstand it. We
(09:11):
know that charity is an ennobling thing, an ennobling thing to the man who
gives charity, but sometimes it embittersthe life of the man who receives it.
Sure, sir, but I say, if I'm going to be embitted,
I wants to be embitted on afullbelling. I don't disagree with you,
(09:31):
mister Wilkins. And that is whyif the people of Greenwich send me
to Parliament, I'll vote for thefull relief bill. Good. I'm sorry.
I can't leave it at that.You see, my religion also teaches
me that it is more meritorious toanticipate charity than to give charity. A
great man by the name of myMonodies taught us that. Or maybe he's
(09:52):
the man we ought to relate.He steady you, But gentlemen, that
might be rather difficult to arrange.You see, my mon, this happens
to be dead. That's too bad. You've all been very kind. Perhaps
you'll allow me to add that thebest charity is to prevent poverty. I
hope you agree with that. Ifyou don't, I advise you to vote
(10:16):
to my opponent. In the yeareighteen fifty one, during the reign of
Queen Victoria, this is how DavidSalomon's campaign for parliament. The people of
Greenwich were Christians. David Salomon's wasa dum and for them there was much
(10:43):
cause for misgiving. In the factit happened once at a meeting that a
man rose in the audience and putto David Salomon's the question that was on
many lips, mister Salomon's, you'rea Jude. How can we elect you?
I ask you to elect me asan Englishman, not as a Jew.
But you won't stop being as youwell should. I I always thought
(11:07):
that in England a man's religion washis own affair. Perhaps, but if
you represent usaint parliament, then yourreligion also becomes art affair. I think
that's wrong, sir. Your affairis how I vote, not how I
pray to God. But suppose whatyou say is true, why should my
religion balm me from parliament. That'swhat we want you to tell us.
(11:30):
Well, I think in that caseI should tell you what the Hebrew law
is. Perhaps you should, sir. Once, in the days of the
Caesars, a smiling Roman commanded thefamous Rabbi Hillel to stand on one leg
and expound the entire law. Well, Hillel also smiled, and he answered,
do not unto others what you wouldnot have others due to thee.
(11:52):
That is the entire law. Everythingelse is commentary. Does that answer you
question, sir? Is that?Would you believe? With all my heart?
All right, sir, I amsatisfied. Greenwich was a tourist stronghold,
(12:15):
and David Solomon's was a Liberal.But in the year eighteen fifty one
the people of Greenwich elected David Selomon'sto Parliament. And now there was a
turning of eyes from Ireland and Scotlandand Wales in the villages of England toward
the Speaker's table in the Great Houseof Commons. Your name, sir,
David Salomon's said, speaker, areyou prepared to take the oath? I
(12:39):
answer you, David Solomon's, trulyand sincerely acknowledge, profess test if I
am declared in your conscience before Godin the world. But our sovereign Queen
Victoria is rightful queen of this realmand all other dominions and countries there unto
belonging. I do, mister speaker, without any equivocation, without any equivocation,
or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever, with none of these, mister
(13:01):
speaker, And do you make thisacknowledgment, abjuration, renunciation and promise heartily,
willingly and truly I do upon thetrue faith of a Christian, upon
the true faith of a Jew.Mister speaker, you are out of order,
sir. The prescribed form of theoath requires you to swear on the
(13:22):
true faith of a Christian. Doyou ask me to renounce my religion,
mister speaker. I asked you totake the oath as it is written.
I do so, mister Speaker.I have been legally elected. I have
satisfied every requirement of this Parliament.But I will not renounce my religion.
And repeat, mister Solomon's. Youare out of order. This form of
authors deliberately framed to exclude a sectionof the population from the rights of Englishman.
(13:46):
Your contumacious sir, Oh, misterspeaker, I am truthful, mister
solomons in my direction that you withdrawfrom the house. I asked the members
of this House to come to order. David Solomon stood before the Speaker's table
(14:07):
of the Great House of Commons.Then slowly he turned. A hush fell
upon the assembly. The elected memberfor Greenwich walked slowly from the rostrum.
The Sergeant at arms held the famousdoors open, and then David Solomon stopped.
(14:28):
He stopped, Then quietly he approacheda vacant seat among the Liberal benches,
and he sat down. Mister Speaker, mister speaker, I recognize Sir
Robert Inglis. I rise to protest. Sir. The Speaker of the House
(14:50):
has ordered this gentleman to withdraw.Thank you, Sir Robert. Do you
withdraw mister Solomon's. Oh, misterspeaker, you are presumptuous, mister Sliman.
I regret it, Sir. Iappeal for the indulgence of the House.
I ask leave to defend my positionyou may not do that. Mister
Solomon's, you are not a legalmember of this body. Let him speak,
(15:13):
Yeah, let him, gentlemen,I ask you again for order.
You have the indulgence of this house. Mister Solomon's, you may proceed.
I wish to state, mister Speaker, members of Parliament, but I am
to be excluded from Commons, notbecause I am guilty of civil events,
or because I am convicted of lackof competence, but because of my devotion
(15:37):
to the faith in which I wasraised. Are you done, mister Solomon's,
Not yet, Sir. This housemay wish to renounce me, but
surely it does not wish to renounceholy scripture. Ye shall have one statue,
both for the stranger and for himthat is born in the land.
(15:58):
And remember that I am not aranger. This is my land where my
father was born and his father beforehim. Argue to the point, sir.
The statute here is that you arenot a legal member of Commons.
You have not taken the oath.I have taken the oath and sworn to
(16:18):
it on my faith. I donot impune your motives, Sir Robin.
But what you ask me to dois repugnant to humanity and against every principle
of charity and civilization. How dareyou impute to wait, Sir robint no,
I appeal to the speaker for permissionto conclude my remarks. You may
proceed. I do not wish totry your patience, gentlemen. Then be
still times over let him speak.Thank you. I say this, if
(16:45):
you disqualify me on religious grounds,you are imposing a penalty for the holding
of opinion. You are stigmatizing personsfor differences of faith. As an Englishman,
I tell you this is un English. And I ask this Assembly to
amend the form of the oath andto act in the spirit of the Magna
carta. Thank you, gentlemen.I withdrawn out the seat that rightfully belonged
(17:19):
to David Salomon's remained vacant, andto cause David Solomon's had taken that seat
briefly and spoken in the House ofCommons without having previously taken the full oath.
Sir Robert protested, I rise ona point of law. What is
your point, Sir Robert? TheMember for Greenwiche has violated an Act of
(17:41):
Parliament. Yes, Sir Robert,but what is your point. If I
am not mistaken, the member ofthe Greenwiche is low the accumulative penalties of
one thousand, five hundred pounds.Am I mistaken as to speak of?
No, you are not. Willthe government sue for the penalties? The
government will not, Sir Robert.I protest. That is your right,
(18:02):
Sir Robert. But may I pointout to you that mister Soulimon's has greater
right to protest. If it isno further business, the House will adjournal.
There is something in the English spiritthat cannot abide meanness or injustice.
(18:26):
And it was as if there wereembodied in the voice of David's Seldon's,
the voice of the prophets of Israel, saying, proclaim liberty throughout the land,
and England listened. There were onlythirty thousand Jews in all of England,
but three hundred thousand Englishmen circulated andsigned a petition for the removal of
(18:48):
all disabilities, and the houses ofParliament began to respond to the will of
the people. The lords, Iintroduce a bill for the purpose of striking
art from a parliamentary oath such portionsas are an operative idol, and sir,
(19:21):
and be It further resolved that whenany of Her Majesty's subjects professing the
Jewish religion shall make the said declaration, the words upon the true faith of
a Christian shall be omitted. Iprotest, mister speaker, all strength,
(19:49):
gentlemen, the merchant to amend theoath has been carried overwhelmingly. May it
pleased the Commons. It is myconviction that our actors, rect Director,
and their grieved member from Greenwich isin fact a legal member of this body.
(20:30):
David Solomon's I say, David Henry, stop this infernal carriage. Hello,
David, you look very well.Lady Russell, you look even better
David in Parliament. It's kind ofyou to say so. It's where you've
always belonged. Thank you, littlesticks. Don't thank me. You belong
(20:52):
among the peers of the realm.I hope the Queen makes you a lord
some day, and so does mywife. But the rabbi doesn't. Oh,
what's he got against the nobility?Nothing but another rabbi. As someone
called Shemaiah once said, love labor, hate lordship, and seek no intimacy
with those in authority. Indeed,is that in the town of David,
(21:12):
I believe so, my lady,interesting, you must send me a copy.
Sometime. I'll let me give youa lift. Thank you know,
Lady Russell, I'll walk. Oh. I always forget. It's your Sabbath,
isn't it. Yes, milady,I'm going to the synagogue. Seems
to me every time I see youyou're going to the synagogue. Perhaps so,
But tell me, Lady Russell,can you think of a better place
(21:34):
for a man called Salomon's to golLord? So he went? Did you
(22:00):
stay? Synagogue? And he satin the pew where later my father sat,
and where I sat. I supposethat's the history of any synagogue,
the history of the men who standbefore the tabernacle of the Lord and speak
words of righteousness. Now the synagoguestands, gut it and make it to
(22:25):
the wind. And the tabernacle ofthe Duke's place is chil'd by fire.
But there is so much in Londonthat is charm'd by fire, and so
much that will be built again andbuilt better. David Salomon's will not see
(22:45):
it, and I shall not seeit, but it will be. I
have faith in that, and inEngland, and in the generations of Israel,
and that isn't a bad finger atall? Is you've been listening to?
(23:30):
This is the story one of aseries of radio dramas selected and rebroadcast
for the men and women of theAmerican Armed Forces in every overseas theater of
operation. Stories of the free people, of the free nations of the world.
(24:19):
This is the Armed Forces Radio Servicetast
This is the story stories of people, of nations, of the world of
yesterday and to day, and themeaning they hold for tomorrow. Somehow it
(01:02):
was more terrible at night, moreterrible and more beautiful. The trace of
bullets would stitch a quick seam offlame up into the sky, and the
incendiaries and the bombs spilled down likebeads from a broken string. That's how
(01:23):
it was. The Knights of Maytenth and May leventh, nineteen forty one,
when the Luftwaffa was over London,Uncle Nathan died the first night.
There was a neat hole through thetop of his helmet. He'd been on
(01:46):
air aid duty over at Duke's Place, just outside the Great Synagogue, aolir
lor cave he stove. Man.Sooner or later a man must die,
(02:36):
and there are worse ways of dying, and from the shell fragment of the
scowl. If please understand me,I'm not a hero, but there are
worse things than dying, like seeingthe roof the Great Synagogue go up in
flames, and seeing a boat offire fall on the arc that holds the
(02:59):
Holy scrows. Are the Holy scrollsstill there? I don't know, I
know that the synagogue stands naked tothe wind, the roof gutted, the
walls charred, the pews where Isat and my father sat, and his
(03:20):
father before him, nothing but agray feather of ash. I am sorry
for that. That pew had ahistory a hundred years ago, Sir David
Salomon's set in that pew. Pleasedon't misunderstand me. It's not important that
(03:42):
Sir David was once Lord Mayor ofLondon, or that he was the brother
in law of Moses Montefiore. It'smore important that he was an upright man.
And yet in the days of QueenVictoria, May she rest in peace,
Sir David Salomon's was aroused by something. I'm not going to wait any
(04:03):
more, amos. No, no, I'm not going to wait. I'm
not going to pussyfoot. I'm notgoing to hold my hat in my hand
and ask for favors, save yourspeeches for your constituency. That's exactly what
I'm going to do. I see. Then you're going to stand for Parliament
again, That's what I mean.It isn't wise, Sir David. Why
not? Because it isn't wise.Now that's no answer. You know,
(04:25):
the answer, you're a Jew.No Jew has ever sat in parliament,
Amos. A few years ago,no Catholic sat in parliament. That's different,
Sir David. You will be attackedbecause you're a Jew. The Catholics
were attacked because they were Catholics.The same civil disabilities applied to them.
They fought against it. And that'swhat we have to do. Perhaps you
(04:46):
stood for Parliament twice already, threetimes so much worse you lost each time.
This time I won'ts all right,suppose you win, well, they
won't seat you exactly, but Iam going to oblige them to say why
they won't seat me. I've toldyou why let them tell me. They'll
tell you you're a jewel Amos.I'm running for office as an Englishman.
(05:08):
So David, you're going to getinto trouble, thanks, Amos. It
seems to me that's a risk Ihave to take. Sir David Henry,
(05:31):
stop the carriage. I thought Irecognize your carriage. Lady Russell. Can
I drive you somewhere? It's verykind of you to ask, but it's
the Sabbaths, you know. Ohyes, of course you don't ride on
Saturdays. Nor will you talk alittle politics. Well, it's not what
I shouldn't do today. I hearyou're going to stand for Grienwage. That's
(05:54):
true, don't it's a Tory stronghold. No liberal has a chance. But
I'm already committed. Lady Russell.Too bad, you're sure. I can't
take you anywhere. Thank you,Lady Russell. I'm going to the synagogue
on Duke's Place. I'll walk,David, I want to see you,
(06:28):
Yes, Rabbi, come in herewhere we can be alone. Are you
going to scold me too? Whydo you want to do this foolish thing?
David? Is it foolish to wantto serve your country? Christian?
Is you want to serve your countryor yourself? I don't know what that
(06:51):
means. Rabbi, we read aservice chapter from pere K August. Today.
I repeat it for you. Seenot greatness for thyself, and caught
not honor. Let thy works exceedthy learning, and crave not after the
table of kings, for thy tableis greater than theirs, and thy employer
(07:15):
is faithful to pay thee the rewardof thy work. I don't want greatness,
Rabbi, I don't crave the tableof kings, and what are you
after? Not long ago a Jewcould not vote. I resented that,
so did I as an Englishman.But now we can vote, so I
complain, we still can't sit inparliament as if rankful. So much very
(07:42):
much, Rabbi, I'm quite willingto be barred from Parliament because I am
incompetent. But I won't be barredbecause the Tories don't admit Catholics, Quakers,
Separatists and Jews. Only others arenow admitted. David autermll come in
time. In time is too long. Now is the time? The time
(08:03):
is always now, Rabbin. You'reright, David. That's the only reason
why I want to run, towipe out the humiliation, this humiliation not
only to us but to England.I believe you and I place you,
David. But remember something. Yes, you're an Englishman, but you're also
Adieu. Whatever you do, whateveryou say, must be done and said
(08:26):
for the sake of righteousness. Youmust be an example, David. Your
daughters allow, mister Kennedy, buthow are you voting the poor Relief bill?
Yes right, David's Suliman's how areyou, belle? I'll tell you
(08:48):
how he'll vote. He's a toughfight. The rest he didn't see in
this blooming fight. Ah shut up, welcomes another speaker. How do you
stand? Said David. I'm forthe bill. What wait, but a
poor relief bill is essentially charity here, you see, he's against a wilk.
You see, charity is part ofmy religion. Every Jew must give
part of what he earns to charity. But we don't misunderstand it. We
(09:11):
know that charity is an ennobling thing, an ennobling thing to the man who
gives charity, but sometimes it embittersthe life of the man who receives it.
Sure, sir, but I say, if I'm going to be embitted,
I wants to be embitted on afullbelling. I don't disagree with you,
(09:31):
mister Wilkins. And that is whyif the people of Greenwich send me
to Parliament, I'll vote for thefull relief bill. Good. I'm sorry.
I can't leave it at that.You see, my religion also teaches
me that it is more meritorious toanticipate charity than to give charity. A
great man by the name of myMonodies taught us that. Or maybe he's
(09:52):
the man we ought to relate.He steady you, But gentlemen, that
might be rather difficult to arrange.You see, my mon, this happens
to be dead. That's too bad. You've all been very kind. Perhaps
you'll allow me to add that thebest charity is to prevent poverty. I
hope you agree with that. Ifyou don't, I advise you to vote
(10:16):
to my opponent. In the yeareighteen fifty one, during the reign of
Queen Victoria, this is how DavidSalomon's campaign for parliament. The people of
Greenwich were Christians. David Salomon's wasa dum and for them there was much
(10:43):
cause for misgiving. In the factit happened once at a meeting that a
man rose in the audience and putto David Salomon's the question that was on
many lips, mister Salomon's, you'rea Jude. How can we elect you?
I ask you to elect me asan Englishman, not as a Jew.
But you won't stop being as youwell should. I I always thought
(11:07):
that in England a man's religion washis own affair. Perhaps, but if
you represent usaint parliament, then yourreligion also becomes art affair. I think
that's wrong, sir. Your affairis how I vote, not how I
pray to God. But suppose whatyou say is true, why should my
religion balm me from parliament. That'swhat we want you to tell us.
(11:30):
Well, I think in that caseI should tell you what the Hebrew law
is. Perhaps you should, sir. Once, in the days of the
Caesars, a smiling Roman commanded thefamous Rabbi Hillel to stand on one leg
and expound the entire law. Well, Hillel also smiled, and he answered,
do not unto others what you wouldnot have others due to thee.
(11:52):
That is the entire law. Everythingelse is commentary. Does that answer you
question, sir? Is that?Would you believe? With all my heart?
All right, sir, I amsatisfied. Greenwich was a tourist stronghold,
(12:15):
and David Solomon's was a Liberal.But in the year eighteen fifty one
the people of Greenwich elected David Selomon'sto Parliament. And now there was a
turning of eyes from Ireland and Scotlandand Wales in the villages of England toward
the Speaker's table in the Great Houseof Commons. Your name, sir,
David Salomon's said, speaker, areyou prepared to take the oath? I
(12:39):
answer you, David Solomon's, trulyand sincerely acknowledge, profess test if I
am declared in your conscience before Godin the world. But our sovereign Queen
Victoria is rightful queen of this realmand all other dominions and countries there unto
belonging. I do, mister speaker, without any equivocation, without any equivocation,
or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever, with none of these, mister
(13:01):
speaker, And do you make thisacknowledgment, abjuration, renunciation and promise heartily,
willingly and truly I do upon thetrue faith of a Christian, upon
the true faith of a Jew.Mister speaker, you are out of order,
sir. The prescribed form of theoath requires you to swear on the
(13:22):
true faith of a Christian. Doyou ask me to renounce my religion,
mister speaker. I asked you totake the oath as it is written.
I do so, mister Speaker.I have been legally elected. I have
satisfied every requirement of this Parliament.But I will not renounce my religion.
And repeat, mister Solomon's. Youare out of order. This form of
authors deliberately framed to exclude a sectionof the population from the rights of Englishman.
(13:46):
Your contumacious sir, Oh, misterspeaker, I am truthful, mister
solomons in my direction that you withdrawfrom the house. I asked the members
of this House to come to order. David Solomon stood before the Speaker's table
(14:07):
of the Great House of Commons.Then slowly he turned. A hush fell
upon the assembly. The elected memberfor Greenwich walked slowly from the rostrum.
The Sergeant at arms held the famousdoors open, and then David Solomon stopped.
(14:28):
He stopped, Then quietly he approacheda vacant seat among the Liberal benches,
and he sat down. Mister Speaker, mister speaker, I recognize Sir
Robert Inglis. I rise to protest. Sir. The Speaker of the House
(14:50):
has ordered this gentleman to withdraw.Thank you, Sir Robert. Do you
withdraw mister Solomon's. Oh, misterspeaker, you are presumptuous, mister Sliman.
I regret it, Sir. Iappeal for the indulgence of the House.
I ask leave to defend my positionyou may not do that. Mister
Solomon's, you are not a legalmember of this body. Let him speak,
(15:13):
Yeah, let him, gentlemen,I ask you again for order.
You have the indulgence of this house. Mister Solomon's, you may proceed.
I wish to state, mister Speaker, members of Parliament, but I am
to be excluded from Commons, notbecause I am guilty of civil events,
or because I am convicted of lackof competence, but because of my devotion
(15:37):
to the faith in which I wasraised. Are you done, mister Solomon's,
Not yet, Sir. This housemay wish to renounce me, but
surely it does not wish to renounceholy scripture. Ye shall have one statue,
both for the stranger and for himthat is born in the land.
(15:58):
And remember that I am not aranger. This is my land where my
father was born and his father beforehim. Argue to the point, sir.
The statute here is that you arenot a legal member of Commons.
You have not taken the oath.I have taken the oath and sworn to
(16:18):
it on my faith. I donot impune your motives, Sir Robin.
But what you ask me to dois repugnant to humanity and against every principle
of charity and civilization. How dareyou impute to wait, Sir robint no,
I appeal to the speaker for permissionto conclude my remarks. You may
proceed. I do not wish totry your patience, gentlemen. Then be
still times over let him speak.Thank you. I say this, if
(16:45):
you disqualify me on religious grounds,you are imposing a penalty for the holding
of opinion. You are stigmatizing personsfor differences of faith. As an Englishman,
I tell you this is un English. And I ask this Assembly to
amend the form of the oath andto act in the spirit of the Magna
carta. Thank you, gentlemen.I withdrawn out the seat that rightfully belonged
(17:19):
to David Salomon's remained vacant, andto cause David Solomon's had taken that seat
briefly and spoken in the House ofCommons without having previously taken the full oath.
Sir Robert protested, I rise ona point of law. What is
your point, Sir Robert? TheMember for Greenwiche has violated an Act of
(17:41):
Parliament. Yes, Sir Robert,but what is your point. If I
am not mistaken, the member ofthe Greenwiche is low the accumulative penalties of
one thousand, five hundred pounds.Am I mistaken as to speak of?
No, you are not. Willthe government sue for the penalties? The
government will not, Sir Robert.I protest. That is your right,
(18:02):
Sir Robert. But may I pointout to you that mister Soulimon's has greater
right to protest. If it isno further business, the House will adjournal.
There is something in the English spiritthat cannot abide meanness or injustice.
(18:26):
And it was as if there wereembodied in the voice of David's Seldon's,
the voice of the prophets of Israel, saying, proclaim liberty throughout the land,
and England listened. There were onlythirty thousand Jews in all of England,
but three hundred thousand Englishmen circulated andsigned a petition for the removal of
(18:48):
all disabilities, and the houses ofParliament began to respond to the will of
the people. The lords, Iintroduce a bill for the purpose of striking
art from a parliamentary oath such portionsas are an operative idol, and sir,
(19:21):
and be It further resolved that whenany of Her Majesty's subjects professing the
Jewish religion shall make the said declaration, the words upon the true faith of
a Christian shall be omitted. Iprotest, mister speaker, all strength,
(19:49):
gentlemen, the merchant to amend theoath has been carried overwhelmingly. May it
pleased the Commons. It is myconviction that our actors, rect Director,
and their grieved member from Greenwich isin fact a legal member of this body.
(20:30):
David Solomon's I say, David Henry, stop this infernal carriage. Hello,
David, you look very well.Lady Russell, you look even better
David in Parliament. It's kind ofyou to say so. It's where you've
always belonged. Thank you, littlesticks. Don't thank me. You belong
(20:52):
among the peers of the realm.I hope the Queen makes you a lord
some day, and so does mywife. But the rabbi doesn't. Oh,
what's he got against the nobility?Nothing but another rabbi. As someone
called Shemaiah once said, love labor, hate lordship, and seek no intimacy
with those in authority. Indeed,is that in the town of David,
(21:12):
I believe so, my lady,interesting, you must send me a copy.
Sometime. I'll let me give youa lift. Thank you know,
Lady Russell, I'll walk. Oh. I always forget. It's your Sabbath,
isn't it. Yes, milady,I'm going to the synagogue. Seems
to me every time I see youyou're going to the synagogue. Perhaps so,
But tell me, Lady Russell,can you think of a better place
(21:34):
for a man called Salomon's to golLord? So he went? Did you
(22:00):
stay? Synagogue? And he satin the pew where later my father sat,
and where I sat. I supposethat's the history of any synagogue,
the history of the men who standbefore the tabernacle of the Lord and speak
words of righteousness. Now the synagoguestands, gut it and make it to
(22:25):
the wind. And the tabernacle ofthe Duke's place is chil'd by fire.
But there is so much in Londonthat is charm'd by fire, and so
much that will be built again andbuilt better. David Salomon's will not see
(22:45):
it, and I shall not seeit, but it will be. I
have faith in that, and inEngland, and in the generations of Israel,
and that isn't a bad finger atall? Is you've been listening to?
(23:30):
This is the story one of aseries of radio dramas selected and rebroadcast
for the men and women of theAmerican Armed Forces in every overseas theater of
operation. Stories of the free people, of the free nations of the world.
(24:19):
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