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Vienna Jews Perturbed over Antisemitic Open-air Demonstration Called for Friday Night: Surprise at P

June 27, 1931
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Jewish public opinion here continues to be in a state of apprehension over the anti-Jewish agitation which is being carried on in protest against the verdict of the Constitutional Court annulling the University order under which the antisemitic students’ body enjoyed special rights, and there is much astonishment that in the midst of such agitation and continuous demonstrations and attacks on Jews in various parts of the city, necessitating the strengthening of the police forces and the closing of the University, the police authorities should have given permission for the holding of a big open-air antisemitic demonstration on Friday night, in protest against the verdict of the Constitutional Court, and at the same time against the Vienna Rothschilds, in connection with the charges made against them in the antisemitic press that they and “international Jewish finance” have intimidated the Government to give them State funds to save their investments in the Credit-Anstalt.

The antisemitic leaders have given the police authorities assurances that order will be maintained at the demonstration, but in Jewish quarters fear is expressed lest the demonstrators dispersing at night after hearing the usual inflammatory anti-Jewish oratory, will proceed to attack Jews.

Support is given to this fear by what happened to-night, when antisemites after leaving a mass meeting attacked the Rang Cafe, throwing stones and even firing revolvers, causing a panic among the guests. One Jew was wounded. Mounted police came up, and drove the antisemites out of the inner part of the city. About a dozen antisemites have been arrested.

The entire University quarter has been cut off by police cordons, in the hope that this will prevent further outbreaks. The Government has ordered the police not to hesitate to use the most drastic measures to put down any disturbances.

The Government appears to be particularly concerned over the fact that several delegates to the International Rotary Congress now in session here (there are about 4,000 delegates present from all parts of the world) have been molested. The Egyptian student who was severely mauled by antisemites who took him by his swarthy appearance to be a Jew.

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