The new Lithuanian Sejm held its first meeting on June 5th. The first work was the election of the Praesidium, which is composed of one Christian Democrat, M. Tumenas, Chairman, one People’s Socialist, Vice-Chairman, one Christian Labor, Secretary, and one People’s Socialist, Second Secretary.
After discussions with the People’s Socialists the Jewish deputies voted in favor of their candidates. The Jewish deputy Garfunkel has been elected a member of the Mandates Commission. There are rumors that the Russian and German deputies (three) are leaving the minorities’ bloc to join the bloc of the Right Parties.
Negotiations are proceeding between he People’s Socialists and the Christian Democrats for the establishment of a Coalition Government. The People’s Socialists are demanding three seats in the Cabinet, including the Ministry for Education.
The Christian Democrats have agreed to grant them two seats, of which the Ministry for Education is not one. Agreement has been reached between the two parties that the President of the Republic shall be a Catholic.
The establishment of the Coalition does not seem likely at the moment. The People’s Socialists demand the closing down of private banks and the prohibition of the sale of timber abroad. It is believed that Government circles are already making arrangements for closing down the privat banks (chiefly Jewish). The People’s Socialists are also demanding certain privileges for the cooperative societies. All these demands hit the Jewish trading population of the country.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
