Austria’s Premier Seeks to Belittle His Party’s Anti-jewish Resolution Seipel on Anti-semitic Progra

Claims He Can Uphold Order Despite Party’s Anti-Semitic Program (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Monsignor Scipel, Austrian Prime Minister, endeavored, in an interview with the representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, to minimize the impression caused by the manifesto of the Austrian Christian Socialist party issued as a New Year’s message.

The party, of which the Prime Minister is a member, declared as one of its New Year’s resolutions that it intends to continue “a ruthless fight against the domination of the destructive Jewish influence in the spiritual and economic life of Austria.” Premier Seipel stated that it would be surprising if the Jews of the world were to be alarmed at this declaration. The Christian Socialist Party has existed for decades and its program has always been known as anti-Semitic. There is no wonder, therefore, that its New Year’s proclamation contains anti-Semitic statement, he said.

Naturally, the Premier, as head of the gcovernment, stands completely removed from the party declaration, but in view of the fact that Austria has a parliamentary government whose members are selected from the representatives of the political parties, the Premier has not ceased to be a member of the Christian Socialist Party, and tries to introduce the principles of his party into public life, the Premier declared. This fact, however, has never hindered him in upholding order and assuring equal rights to all citizens without distinction of religion. This is well known to Austrian Jews who have not displayed any sign of anxiety at the fact that the head of the government is a member of the Christian Socialist Party, he stated.

The bill for compulsory reading of the Ten Commandments in the public schools of New York State will again be introduced in the Legislature by the New York Women’s Republican Club, it was decided at a meeting Tuesday at the Hotel Plaza. An effort will be made to obtain the indorsement of the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, which will meet at the Hotel Ploza on Feb. 4.