The resurrection of the anti-Semitic Nara Party is reported from Warsaw by the Polish newspapers. The new party will carry the name “The Federation of Young Nationalists.
When the Polish government suppressed the Nara Party last June, it was clear to the Jews that the suppression did not come as a result of the anti-Jewish riots which the Nara had organized throughout the country. It was clear that if not for the assassination of Minister Pieracki, the Polish government would never have gone to the trouble of liquidating the Nara.
The revival of the Nara Party under a new name now is, therefore, no surprise. Nor is it surprising that the reorganized Nara Party is now openly supported by leaders of the Government Party.
GOVERNMENT’S FLIRTATION
The Government Party was flirting with the Naras long before Pieracki’s assassination, in the hope of winning them away from the oppositionary Endek Party. It was due to this flirtation that the government did not consider it necessary to protect the Jews in Poland from the anti-Jewish Nara riots.
The underground activities which the suppressed Nara organization conducted after being proclaimed illegal seem to have convinced the government that it would be more practical to win the youths in this party by organizing them into a special youth federation which should gradually be put under the influence of the Government Party. The Federation of Young Nationalists was therefore formed and support to this federation is therefore now given by government leaders.
JEWISH DISAPPOINTMENT
The Jewish population of Poland, which has shown its loyalty to the present regime {SPAN}o#{/SPAN} many occasions, certainly prefers to see the youth movement in Poland under the influence of the Government Party rather than under the influence of the anti-Semitic Endek Party. The Jewish population in Poland will, however, find it disappointing that the government leaders are approving the anti-Semitic part of the program which the newly formed Federation of Young Nationalists has just formulated.
The program of the Federation “to decrease the number of Polish Jews” resembles too much the program of the suppressed Nara Party. By approving the anti-Semitic part of this program the Government again is only convincing the world that liquidation of the Nara Party did not occur because of any desire on the part of the government to protect the Jews, but because of other motives.
With the new party enjoying government co-operation, a new wave of strong anti-Semitic activities may be expected in Poland. Polish Jewry now is in danger again. Has the Polish government no way of discouraging new political parties from making anti-Semitism a part of their programs?
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.
