Crisis in Hungarian Cabinet Likely from Klebelsberg’s Ban on Numerus Clausus

The likelihood of a cabinet crisis in Hungary has arisen as a result of the Christian Economic Party’s threat to withdraw its support from the government if the speech of Count Kuno Klebelsberg, minister of education, declaring that he would oppose numerus clausus, means a change in the government’s political course. This threat appeared in a resolution unanimously adopted at a conference of the Christian Economic Party at which the party’s leader, Dr. Joseph Vass, Minister of Social Welfare and Labor, urged that the conference postpone adoption of the resolution until Count Klebelsberg is given an opportunity to explain himself before a confidential meeting of the party.

In connection with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of “Egyenloeszeg,” the organ of Hungarian Jewry, Count Klebelsberg made a number of flattering remarks about the Jews of Hungary and definitely declined to permit numerus clausus in the universities and promised to do all in his power to reestablish a national united religious front in Hungary.

The coalition party, which is now the government party, disapproves of the resolution adopted by the Christian Economic party because of a feeling that his pro-Jewish attitude will be of value to Hungary at The Hague and will also aid in negotiations for a foreign loan. Hence the coalitionists are of the opinion that Klebelsberg’s declaration is in the national interest. It is also indicated that the coalitionists hope by supporting Count Klebelsberg that they will reduce the popularity of the Christian Economic party.

The speech of Count Klebelsberg that has stirred up the situation likely to lead to a cabinet crisis follows:

“In being present as minister of education and public worship, I have merely done my duty towards a great religious community. I welcome the fact that the ‘Egyenloeszeg,’ in addition to topical news, devotes a column to religious ethics. A firm coalition is necessary between the state and religion. We must not stop at a national united front but we must create too a religious united front.

“It would be a mistake to believe that the Hungarian nation in its magnificent reconstruction work could dispense with the immense spiritual and moral energies which the Jewish religious community represents.”

Referring to Dr. Geza Desi’s speech the same evening, which had touched upon numerus clausus, Count Klebelsberg said he would not speak any further on that problem but he did say “you know that at the time I did not approve of the numerus clausus law but walked out into the corridors of Parliament emphasizing from the beginning that the numerus clausus law would become the source of many evils. By the new legislative act I formally removed from the numerus clausus law everything in it that was offensive to the Jews.”

Count Klebelsberg recalled that during the Tisza government, he had worked together with Leopold Vadsoz and afterwards when he was “already a cabinet minister, I visited Vadsoz when he was seriously ill. He said to me as a Hungarian I have lost twothirds of my fatherland. As a Jew I see my co-religionists oppressed.’ I have never seen Vadsoz again, but I gave him then my assurance that as soon as political conditions permitted I would do everything possible to establish a united religious front. This conception has always carried weight, both in my private and in my political activities.”

The “Pester Lloyd,” one of the leading papers, in commenting on Count Klebelsberg’s speech said it was not an ordinary ministerial address but a stepping stone in the restoration of sanity in public life. “Those looking back to the days of terror, pogroms and bomb outrages can measure the length of the road we have travelled and the ethical and political purification which our nation has gone through that a minister in office, without an anxious side glance at race protectors, should come out so definitely against anti-Semitism and unfurl the banner of national religious unity is certainly a promising sign of a return.”

Referring to Count Klebelsberg’s declaration regarding numerus clausus, “Pester Lloyd” regrets that numerus clausus itself still remains. “We assure Count Klebelsberg that the entire abolition of numerus clausus will not encounter any opposition worth mentioning either in public opinion or in both houses of Parliament.”