Further Details on Suit Against Ex-empress Zita for Synagogue Site

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Further details concerning the suit brought by the Jewish community of Budafok, near Budapest, against ex-Empress Zita for a synagogue site promised the community by the late Emperor Franz Josef, were obtained by the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here.

It appears from the records that twenty odd years ago, a deputation of the Jewish community in Budafok, when received by the late Emperor obtained a promise from him to set aside a piece of land belonging to the royal estate in Budafok for the erection of a synagogue. When the community leaders claimed the land, the administration of the imperial estate declared that the land designated was already given away to others by a previous grant of the Emperor.

Another deputation then appeared before the Emepror and arranged that the Budafok Kehillah purchase from the estate a site near the previous one at a low price. Franz Josef gave his consent to this proposal, whereupon, the Kehillah made the first payment in the amount of 1,500 Kronen, undertaking to make further payments later. No definite date for the conclusion of the payments was, however, made.

In the meantime the Budafok Kehillah learned that the administration of the imperial estate donated a site in the neighborhood of the proposed synagogue site for the erection of a Catholic missionary institution and a Catholic convent. The Kehillah then stopped making further payments. The matter was left in abevance, due to the outbreak of the World War., However, in 1924, it was learned that the originators of the plan to erect a missionary house and a convent on the estate, abandoned their intention. The Budafok Kehillah then paid up the full pride for the site contracted for.

The administrators of the estate, however, rejected the proffered payment, declaring that the contract for the purchase of the site did not exist by the Kehillah’s default. The first installment paid in was also to be forfeited. The congregtion then filed suit against the former Empress.

The amount of $174,000 has already been subscribed toward the $1,000,000 fund which the Brooklyn Federal ### Jewish Charizies will endeavor to raise in its campaign to be conducted from Oct. 17 to Oct. 24. This was announced at a luncheon given at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for officers and supporters of the federation. George V. McLaughlin. President of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce was guest of honor.