RR +385.4 lata) us 10627.2 L ARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY Aug: 27,1926 COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA 7574 .n PREFACE The event of supreme importance in the year 5679 was the conclusion of the greatest war in history and the drafting of the treaties, which, among other things, dealt with territorial, economic, and political problems arising out of the war. In the two treaties which have already been published, namely, those with Germany and Poland, there are clauses which intimately concern our brethren; similar clauses will be included in the treaties with new states and those whose territories are being enlarged, in which these states will undertake the same solemn obligations for the protection of racial, linguistic, and religious minorities as have been assumed by the new State of Poland. This is one of the most important events in modern history, but inasmuch as not all the treaties in question have yet been published, it was not possible to have this subject dealt with in a special article. For the present the most that can be done is to give in a special section such excerpts from documents emanating from the Peace Conference as are of interest to Jews. A few months after the close of the year 5678, the war came to end. It was therefore considered not only fitting but also urgent to record, while the recollection was still vivid, the salient facts respecting the participation of the Jews of various countries in the struggle. A series of articles was projected which, for obvious reasons, was confined to the United States and the countries associated with it in the war; but practical difficulties have rendered it possible to present in this volume only articles on the participation of the Jews of Great Britain and of France. The former article was contributed by the Rev. Michael Adler, senior Jewish chaplain in the British forces; the latter was prepared, in a very short time and under great pressure, by Captain Sylvain Halff, of Paris, who exhibits an intimate knowledge of the facts. These articles contain information of intense interest not alone to Jews, but, in general, to all persons who desire to have some conception of the great heroism and sacrifice of the Jews of these |