Hungarian Vice-premier Explains Situation in Country to J.t.a. Director

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

Hungary has now reached the stage of stabilization in spite of the severe economic crisis caused by the war, the two revolutions and the inflation period, according to Dr. Joseph Vass, Vice-Premier and Minister of Welfare, in an interview he granted Jacob Landau, managing director of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The difficulties with which Hungary has to contend now are easily recognizable. The large customs-union constituted by the Austro-Hungarian Empire with its fifty million inhabitants, has been split into five different parts. Hungary has lost her outlet to the sea, is compelled to import raw materials, and the old opportunities to dispose of her products in the country have gone. Hungary must now look for foreign markets and compete with Czecho-Slo-vakia, Germany and other States. In spite of that Hungary has succeeded in stabilizing her currency and is gradually rising again economically.

The Jews have taken a considerable part in this work. They have restored the connections with the financial powers abroad which were broken off by the war and as before the war they are again taking an active part in the industry and trade of the country, Dr. Vass stated.

The anti-Semitic movement in Hungary, Dr. Vass declared, results from three causes. The overwhelming and leading part played by the Jews in trade, finance and industry have contributed to the development of an anti-Semitic movement. Secondly, not all the Hungarian Jews tried to prevent the streaming into Hungary of thousands of new Jewish immigrants before and during the war. It is true that a number of Jews saw the danger and took preventative measures, but the non-Jews who had grown accustomed to the native Jews could not feel the same toward the thousands of new Jewish immigrants and refugees. This contributed a great deal to the growth of the anti-Semitic movement. Thirdly, there was the excessive participation of the Jews in the Radical movements. It is true that Jews were to be found in all the parties, but in no other party were they as strong and holding such leading positions as in the Radical Parties. While the Jews constitute only five to six per cent of our population, fifty per cent of the leading personages in the Radical Parties were Jews. Obviously then, there was an excess of Jewish participation in the Radical movement, he said.

“Nevertheless I hope,” the Minister concluded, “that with the continuing economic restoration of the country, Jews and Hungarians will, as in the past, live together in harmony, the more so because the native Jews of Hungary have in the post-war period been conducting their affairs in a politically more significant and wise manner, and the overwhelming part of Hungarian Jewry desires nothing more than to have a strong and normal political life, peaceful relations and opportunities for constructive activity.

A kosher cafeteria and students’ house with eating accommodations for more than 100 and lodging for about twenty-five Jewish students were opened last week at the beginning of classes at Harvard University.

The house is operated by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations in America. Any Jewish student is eligible provided he promises to abide by the Jewish traditions in respect to eating.

The committee in charge of the new house consists of Leo Schwartz, Prof. Nathan Isaacs, Rabbi Landau, Mr. and Mrs. Fuhrman and M. Feuerstein.

High Holy Day Services were held this year in the Synagogue of the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colo.

The services were conducted by M. Solomon Ancis, Cantor of the Hospital.

COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR

Sir:

I am simply delighted with the “Jewish Daily Bulletin” Index for the year 1925. This is a most serviceable production, very handily prepared. Congratulations! You have rendered a real service to the students of Jewish community affairs.

MAURICE B. HEXTER. Federated Jewish Charities of Boston. Boston, Oct. 5, 1926