Measures to parcel all estates acquired by Jews after June 1, 1914, and prohibit new purchase of land by Jews were announced tonight by Count Telecki, Minister of Agriculture, addressing a mass meeting. Meanwhile, Premier Bela Imredy, in an address, justified Hungary’s “pace protection” measures. He declared that “not a weak, but a militant Christian love is necessary to drive the money-changers out of the temple of the Hungarian nation.”
At least two Catholic bishops and many other lesser Church figures would legally be classified as Jews under Hungary’s new anti-Semitic legislation, it was pointed out last night by Father Bela Bangha, leader of Hungary’s Catholic Action, in a speech roundly condemning the measures. The newspaper Hetfor Reggel reported that projected revision of the anti-Semitic bills will exempt churchmen of Jewish origin from their provisions. War orphans also will be exempt, it was added.
The Jesuit’s criticism, typical of comment voiced in many quarters, was echoed in a resolution adopted by a wing of the Hungarian War Veterans’ Association. Strong admonition against racist principles also was voiced by Gezades Szullo, a member of the Upper House, in an article published in Pester Lloyd, semi-official newspaper which usually reflects Government views in the foreign policy domain.
Speaking at Ersek-Ujvar, Father Bangha warned: “One must remain on guard lest a State calling itself Christian enter into conflict with the Church regarding the very principles of Christianity.” The Catholic Action leader particularly spoke in defense of those Hungarian Jews who had been converted to Christianity and who had sincerely adopted the faith.
“Some of them,” he said, “were baptized twenty, thirty or more years ago and have furthermore raised their children in seminaries.” The speaker warmly urged Parliament to seek an equitable solution of the entire Jewish question and to avoid any measures likely to dishonor or terrorize the country’s baptized Jews.
The war veterans group argued that the anti-Semitic legislation created an unfair distinction among men who had fought together in defense of their mutual fatherland.
Senator Szullo maintained in Pester Lloyd that it was dangerous to attempt the application of racist principles in Hungary, whose peculiar geographical position at the crossroads of European migration had more or less made it the continent’s “melting pot.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
