Hungarians in Mad Scramble for Jewish Goods As Fall of Budapest is Imminent

With Budapest threatened with complete encirclement, Jewish-owned stores which were taken over by the government are being besieged by crowds in a mad scramble for confiscated Jewish goods, it is revealed in Hungarian newspapers reaching here today.

The papers report that Hungarians are rushing to these stores and threaten the government salesmen there, some at the point of pistols, in an attempt to secure shoes, clothing and other articles which are now considered government property. At the same time the papers carry announcements inviting the population to buy stocks from Jewish firms which have passed into the hands of the government under the anti-Jewish legislation.

Not with standing the critical situation in which Budapest now finds itself, the pro-Nazi Szalasi government has not relaxed in its stepped-up anti-Jewish propaganda. The official gazette of last Saturday carries an order severely restricting the publication of newspapers and magazines in Budapest, but the anti-Semitic newspaper “Haro” which is similar to the notorious publication “Der Stuermer” in Germany, is not listed among the publications which are to be discontinued as result of the paper shortage.

The imminent fall of Budapest into the hands of the Russian Army does not prevent the Budapest papers from carrying a decree issued last week by the Szalasi government defining the territorial limits of the Jewish ghetto in the Hungarian capital. The decree reads.

“The government has decreed that Budapest yellow-starred Jews must move to territory bordered by Dohany, Nagyatadi, Szabo, Istvan Kiraly, Osanyi, Sebestyen Rumbach, Imre Madach and King Karoly Streets and Imre Madach Square. That area (the ghetto) must be separated from the area inhabited by non-Jews. Houses facing the above streets do not belong to the ghetto, which must not be inhabited by non-Jews.”

Non-Jews must not practice their profession in the ghetto, said the decree and “likewise, authorities and public institutions must not locate there.” The news-papers quoted the decree as stating that “non-Jews leaving the ghetto will get certificates authorizing them to receive dwellings from the government housing commission,” and “dwellings that become vacant when Jews have moved must be let to the non-Jewish certificate holder who demands the dwelling first.”

“The government realizes the extraordinary difficulties that non-Jews will have to face when leaving the ghetto, but that sacrifice is necessary for victory’s sake,” said the decree.