Alexander Kahn Sees Civil War in Poland if Present Trend Continues

ALEXANDER KAHN, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE AND HEAD OF ITS COMMITTEE ON POLAND, RETURNING FROM A THREE-MONTH SURVEY IN POLAND AND EASTERN EUROPE WARNED TODAY THAT AS A RESULT OF ANTI-SEMITISM “THE POLISH PEOPLE IS BEING SPLIT INTO TWO CAMPS” AND “IF THIS IS CONTINUED TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION THERE MAY BE CIVIL WAR IN POLAND AND WAR IN EUROPE.”

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY, ABOARD THE FRENCH LINER CHAMPLAIN, MR. KAHN BLAMED THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS (ENDEKS) PRINCIPALLY FOR ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS WHICH “ARE CARRIED OUT WITH A CRUELTY CHARACTERISTIC OF SAVAGES.”

HOWEVER, HE SAW INDICATIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY FIND IT NECESSARY TO TURN TO THE LEFT. IT IS BEGINNING TO CATER TO THE PEASANTS’ PARTY, HE SAID, AND THE FACT THAT MUNICIPAL AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS ARE BEING PLANNED CAN BE INTERPRETED AS A MOVE TOWARD LIBERALISM. “THE PEASANT DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE KRAKOW DISTRICT,” HE ASSERTED, “WERE A WARNING THAT THE PEASANTS WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH POGROMS ON JEWS. THEY WANT REFORM AND FREE ELECTIONS. MANY OF THEM WERE SHOT DOWN BUT, THEY SAY, YOU CAN’T LICK A PEASANT WHEN HE IS HUNGARY. THE WORKINGMEN IN THE CITIES ARE ALSO FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND CONSIDER IT AN ATTACK ON THEM. THUS THE POLISH PEOPLE IS BEING SPLIT INTO TWO CAMPS. IF THIS IS CARRIED TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION, THERE MAY BE CIVIL WAR IN POLAND AND WAR IN EUROPE.”