Anti-jewish Outbreak in Salonica Streets: Police Disperse Antisemitic Students but Jewish Population

Serious anti-Jewish incidents took place in Salonica yesterday. Students went through the streets distributing anti-Jewish pamphlets, calling on the population to boycott the Jews and accusing the Jewish sports club Maccabee of conducting propaganda for Macedonian secession from Greece. Jews passing in the streets were attacked, and the situation became threatening. Mounted police went through the streets dispersing the antisemitic agitators and restored order.

At night, a big mob attacked the Maccabee Club, smashed furniture there and injured several of the members.

The Government has issued an appeal for order, declaring that the Jews are loyal citizens of Greece, and insisting that the Greek people must treat them with respect and not attack them.

The Jewish population is nevertheless very anxious about the situation, fearing fresh outbursts.

There are about 50,000 Jews in Salonica (47,996), according to the last census of 1928, about 20 per cent. of the total population of 236,524. Fifteen years ago the Jews of Salonica numbered 150,000 and constituted half the population of the city. Economically the condition of the Jews of Salonica is very bad and they have not yet recovered from the disastrous fire which a few years back destroyed the entire Jewish quarter. The Greek press has also been conducting a violent anti-Jewish campaign for years, complaining in particular that the Jews do not speak Greek, but retain their distinctive Judeo-Spanish language. the Prime Minister, M. Venizelos, assured a Jewish deputation which complained to him a few years back of this anti-Jewish agitation that the press does not reflect the attitude of the Government, which disapproves of antisemitic agitation and will take steps to put a stop to it.