Hungarian Government Party Makes Bid for Jewish Vote with Vague Promises to Abolish Numerus Clausus

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The vague promises of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Count Bethlen, concerning the possible abolition of the numerus clausus, limiting the number of Jewish students in Hungarian universities, is being exploited by the government party candidates in their attempts to obtain the Jewish vote.

The pre-election campaign is in full swing in all Hungarian towns. At almost all elections meetings in the towns, the government candidates appeal to the Jewish voters to support the government party on the ground that if returned, Count Bethlen will abolish the numerus clausus.

An interesting feature of the campaign was the address delivered by Minister of Social Welfare Vaas, a member of the Christlich Soziale Party. He appealed to the Jewish voters who are affiliated with Jewish national organizations to support the Hungarian national policy because they can appreciate the national feeling.

A strenuous effort to win the vote of Jewish citizens was made by Count Bethlen in pre-election campaign in Debrecen.

The Prime Minister called on Dr. Strasser, rabbi of the Debrecen orthodox community, and Dr. Schleisinger, rabbi of the reform community. Count Bethlen discussed with the rabbi the question of representation of the Jewish population in the Hungarian senate. The Prime Minister assured the rabbis that steps will be taken to safeguard the traditions of the two wings of Hungarian Jewry. He also promised a state subsidy of 10,000 gold Kronen to the Jewish Real Gymnasium. The subsidy was voted to the Debrecen town council, but has been held back by the Minister of Interior Rakovsky.

At the same time, it became known that Franz Molnar, who made an attempt on the life of the late Wilhelm Vaszonyi, Hungarian Jewish statesman and leader of the Hungarian labor party, was acquitted by the Royal Court. Molnar was sentenced by the lower court to six months imprisonment.