In an effort to curry favor with Hitler in the vital Vienna negotiations, Hungary is outdoing Rumania in a systematic campaign to enslave the Jewish population without parallel in Hungarian history, it was learned from unimpeachable quarters here today.
As part of the general mobilization, a compulsory labor law has been placed in effect whereby all conscripts not wanted for military service are being placed in labor battalions. This is especially directed against the Jews, since a new measure provides that not more than 10 per cent of any military outfit may be Jews, it was said.
Under this law thousands of Jews, including former high officers in the army, noted professional men and Jewish business leaders are now being gathered in a stockade and forced to do manual labor, these quarters charged. They are not being paid and have a status no better than that of slaves, it was added.
The action assertedly was taken despite the protests of many Hungarian leaders to Premier Paul Teleki and has caused some unrest, it was reported.
In addition, new anti-Jewish laws are about to be placed in effect which provide for the confiscation of all agricultural property owned by Jews.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
