"The International Jew" Study Hour - Episode 73

Nov. 14, 2013

Carolyn Yeager reads and comments on Chapter 68, “Benedict Arnold and Jewish Aid in Shady Deal.”

How Benedict Arnold got courts-martialed, after being given the command of Philadelphia, for “having shut down the stores and shops, even to all officers, while he privately made considerable purchases at lowered prices for his own benefit.” And how the Jewish Franks, who supplied the Army, escaped guilty verdicts time and again. Highlights:

• A committee of the Continental Congress commissions the Jewish merchant David Franks of Philadelphia to feed and care for British prisoners that General Arnold had captured and brought from Canada;
• Because of this, Franks was given many unusual privileges in regard to the British enemy command in New York;
• When David Franks is prosecuted for treason, he goes free in spite of the evidence against him;
• Gen. Washington’s aide de camp sees two incriminating letters written by Gen. Arnold to his aide David Solesbury Franks and testifies to this, while D.S. Franks testifies on behalf of Arnold;
• Both D.S. Franks and Arnold “threaten” to leave the army because their “personal affairs” are suffering (that is, not enough money for them);
• Once again, Arnold escapes with a reprimand, this time officially given by George Washington who says he will himself “furnish (Arnold) with opportunities to regain the esteem of his country.”

Next week we see how that turns out.

Image: Burial marker for David Solesbury/Salisbury, Franks' “highest ranking Jewish officer in the Continental Army.” Donated by Feinstein Center at Temple Univ., American Jewish Committee, and Christ Church. Enlarge

Note: We are using the Noontide Press publication of The International Jew — The World’s Foremost Problem which can be found online here as a pdf file.