Hungarian Premier on Jewish Question and Numerus Clausus

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

“I am deeply moved by the differences between Christians and the adherents of the Jewish faith,” declared Premier Count Stefan Bethlen, speaking today to an audience of 1,500 members of the Budapest Citizen Party at which he announced his program for the Parliamentary elections. The Premier was supported by the President of the Citizen Party, Ex-Minister of Finance, Tibor von Kallay.

“The Jewish community,” the Premier continued, “has gained its rights under the law, and this legally acquired right must not be diminished. The Government feels that it is its duty to suppress every attempt at incitement which appears to be directed towards arousing enmity against Jews and Judaism and to take all possible measures to punish those engaged in such incitement.

“Here,” the Premier went on, “we come to the problem of the Numerus Clausus. I want to speak frankly and openly on this matter. The only way in which it is possible to bring about a reconciliation in matters where differences have become acute is to tell the truth. The Minister of Education made it clear a year ago in Geneva that the Numerus Clausus is only a transitional institution which has been made necessary by the existing economic and social conditions of the time, which, however, cannot remain permanently. He added that immediately the situation changed the Numerus Clausus would automatically lapse. It was objected at the time that the Minister said one thing in Geneva and another thing in Budapest. I see that I must therefore assume the responsibility for it that the matter will proceed in the way he indicated. The Numerus Clausus is, indeed, only a transitional institution. But on the other hand no one ought to run away with the idea that it has been brought about only by a senseless and purposeless anti-Semitism. Had that been so this Government would have ended it long ago. But we have here in Hungary, a hunted, Christian middle-class, tortured and suffering, deprived of all its possessions, herded together in masses in district quarters, come here from all parts of the country and they are rightly every seriously concerned about the future of their children. This middle-class is afraid that it will die out if it is not assisted in its fight for existence. This anxiety may be without foundation or not, but that it exists is a fact with which anyone who occupies a position such as mine must reckon, whether his name be Bethlen or something else.

“Where is the solution? It certainly is not in an intervention from abroad which Hungarian Jewry, thank God, has realized. Such intervention could only pour poison into the problem. The real solution can only be found in the economic life of the country. The Government must start a movement in association with the leading circles in society aiming at an opportunity for the sons of the middle-class to earn their livelihood. This is a very big problem and the Government takes upon itself the task of preparing a full program in regard to this matter.”