Czaristic Restrictions Dead, Minister of Justice Tells Polish Parliament

Similar View Held by Supreme Court; Difficulty Due to Slowness of Codification (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Czaristic laws placing Jews under legal disabilities are dead in Poland today, although they still appear on the antiquated statute books, declared Polish Minister of Justice Myessetowitz in parliament during the budget discussion when he was besought by the Jewish deputies for a clear-cut statement on the question.

“This is not only my view. This is the view of the Supreme Court,” he declared, adding that for other branches of the government, he is not responsible. “As long as I have lived, I have championed the equality of all citizens. Now I have lived to hear the reproach that I supposedly am opposed to the abolition of the Czaristic restrictions,” he stated. “The fact of the matter is that as the process of codifying the statutes is progressing, the Czaristic restrictions are being annulled; more than that, they are not being practiced,” he added.

Deputy A. Hartglass took exception to the Minister’s statement that the Czaristic restrictions are no longer practiced. He cited a case which occurred not long ago, in which a Jew was prohibited from purchasing land in the vicinity of Warsaw. Another case cited by Deputy Hartglass referred to the Czaristic restriction whereby Christions cannot accept the Jewish faith. He also stated that the Minister of Justice was the author of the government bill for the abolition of the Czaristic restrictions on land purchase in the Eastern Provinces wherein the word “Pole” instead of “all citizens” was employed which in his interpretation might have discriminated against Jews. He also interpellated the Minister on whether he has taken any action to stop the anti-Semitic agitation in Bromberg and in Kotowitz. No reply to this question was made.