Jewish leaders today appealed to Budapest Jews not to organize any further demonstrations to protest the killing of three Jews at Kunmadaras last week, stating that they are satisfied that the Government is acting to punish the participants in the outbreak and to prevent repetition of such incidents.
A mass meeting called for yesterday afternoon was cancelled following the spontaneous demonstration of Jews before the parliament on Saturday, during which several of the demonstrators were injured. Police estimated today that 15,000 persons were in the crowd that gathered at the parliament building
It was revealed today that among the 120 persons arrested for participation in the anti-Jewish riot in Kunmadaras is the secretary of the local branch of the Small Holders Party, which is the largest political party in the country. The disturbance has become a political hot potato, with every party attempting to pin the responsibility on its opponents.
PREMIER WARNS AGAINST ANTI-JEWISH OUTBREAKS; SAYS THEY HARM HUNGARY
The Budapest radio today broadcast a statement by Premier Ferenc Nagy in which he condemned the outbreak. “In the past years Hungarian Jews endured untold sufferings,” he said. “They do not deserve additional hardships. The activities of disruptive elements are harming Hungary and creating the impression abroad that fascist excesses here have not ended.” The broadcast quoted Vice-Premier Matyas Rakosi as demanding that the Ministry of Justice take summary action against the perpetrators of the program, and urging death sentences upon the ringleaders.
Foreign Minister Janos Gyoengyoesi, speaking last night at the first meeting of an organization devoted to fostering Jewish communal activities aside from relief and welfare activities, pointed out that the taint of anti-Semitism had cropped up again in Hungary. He stressed the necessity for the new organization to work for rapprochement between Jews and non-Jews.
Jewish leaders, including Chief Rabbi Farenc Hevesi, said that although the new organization was not anti-Zionist, it would aim at spreading the conviction that there was place for Jews in Hungarian life. Among those attending the gathering was U.S. Minister Arthur Schoonfeld, representatives of the American military mission and UNRRA and high church authorities.
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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.
