House Discussion Displays Deep Hatred; Jewish Journalist Ejected When He Protests Against Calumnies (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The question whether the Jews are a nation or a religious sect was the crux of the debate which continued in parliament yesterday over the Government bill to modify the numerus clausus law.
The anti-Semitic leaders who opposed the Government bill argued that the Jews are a nation, while those supporting the Government bill marshaled evidence to show that the Jews are merely a religious sect and therefore open discrimination against them in legislation is unconstitutional.
The debate plumbed the depths of anti-Jewish hatred which still exists in many Hungarian circles. Deputy Petrovac, representing the Christian Socialist Party, nationalist group, spoke against the Government bill and demanded that instead of promulgating this measure, a sharper form of numerus clausus should be introduced since. “The Jews are a nation, contrary to the contention of the evangelical priests. A numerus clausus should be introduced not only in the field of education but also in industry and commerce.” Should this measure be promulgated, Deputy Petrovac threatened, his party will start a fight against it with every means, even outside the law.
Many of the deputies received anonymous letter threatening them with reprisals if they will vote for the Government bill.
The sentiment expressed by Deputy Petrovac was shared by many other deputies. Even deputies of the Government party who participated in the discussion frankly declared that they would have preferred to join the ranks of the students fighting against the bill, but unfortunately they are compelled by the Government’s foreign policy to vote for the numerus clausus reform.
A stormy scene took place in the House when Mr. Sabolczy, a Jewish newspaperman, editor of a leading Hungarian daily, gave vent to his feelings. Sabolczy, who was in the press gallery, after listening to Petrovac’s calumnies against the Jews, shouted: “It is untrue!”
The speaker of the House, in ordering the Sergeant-at-arms to evict Sabolczy, exclaimed: “Journalists may listen but not speak.” Sabolczy was prohibited from returning to the press gallery for a year and a half.
The general impression one gets from the proceedings in the House is that the government is satisfied with the anti-Semitic opposition to the bill, believing that this will offer proof to public opinion abroad that the government is making a sacrifice in favor of the Jews by going against the oppositional feeling in 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.
