Torn between the Hungarian Government’s anti-Jewish policy and the adverse effect which it has had on the nation’s economy, the Minister of Industry, Laszlo Szasz, has issued a warning against crippling Hungary’s commerce and industry by severe application of the anti-Jewish laws. At the same time, however, he attacked persons displaying sympathy for the persecuted Jews.
“The radical measures taken in our country for the solution of the Jewish problem must not disturb the country’s economy,” the minister said at a public function. “The government regards the country’s production as being even more important than the Jewish problem. We don’t aim at exterminating the Jews. The government regulations do not indicate such aims. It would be unworthy of Hungarians to contemplate the physical annihilation of Jews.
“The Jewish problem,” the minister continued, “cannot be solved by anti-Semitism based on hatred. We shall be very glad to see the Jews find a country and build their own state far from our borders. But we will not tolerate anyone who is attempting to rouse the sympathy of our nation in favor of the Jews in Hungary. After solving the problem of the Jews in our country we shall take steps to liquidate those who are concealing their property.”
POLICE UNITS FORMED TO SEARCH FOR HIDDEN JEWISH PROPERTY
The minister, whose speech was given wide publicity in the Hungarian press reaching here today, also announced that special detective units have been formed by the Hungarian Government to search for concealed Jewish property, since it is assumed that many Jews have hidden their belongings with friendly non-Jews in the hope that Germany will lose the war and they will then be able to regain them. These units are headed by Peter Hain, chief superintendent of the detective department of the Budapest political police.
In connection with the formation of these units, the police department in Budapest today broadcast a nation-wide warning to Jews not to give any of their property to Christians as gifts. “It is useless for Jews to give away belongings to non-Jews, as well as for Christians to produce documents proving that they purchased property from Jews under agreements concluded before the anti-Jewish laws were issued. The police department has sufficient means to expose all such machinations. For weeks precious stones, gold and silver confiscated in hideouts have been streaming into the police.”
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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.
