The Polish government today officially announced that the beating of Professor Herceli Handelsmann, aged dean of the historical faculty of the University of Warsaw by anti-Semitic Endek students was an attack on a state official and is punishable by a sentence of five years’ penal servitude. Professor Handelsmann was badly beaten last Wednesday night after he had spoken sharply against attempts to introduce an “Aryan clause” that would have prevented Jewish students from joining student self-aid associations.
The senate of the University of Warsaw today urgently appealed to Professor Handelsmann to withdraw his resignation as dean which he submitted immediately after the attack.
Gazetta Warsawska, chief organ of the Endek, continues its attacks on Professor Handelsmann. The paper has carried a number of articles directed against Professor Handelsmann over a long period of time. Gazetta Warsawska is annoyed with Professor Handelsmann because he spoke against the “Aryan clause.” If Jews did not attend Polish universities, there would never be such incidents and consequently no reason for closing the schools,” the Endek paper declared.
Immediately after the attack on Professor Handelsmann, the Polish government closed the University of Warsaw for an indefinite period.
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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.
