Emphasis by the liberal press that the numerus clausus for Jews in all branches of Austrian life was contrary to the spirit of the peace treaties and the Austrian Constitution was rejected today by the Christian. Socialist (Government) and the trade union presses, these papers declaring that the government is carefully considering this step, which will be welcomed by the greater part of the Austrian people.
The demand for the numerus clausus, limiting the number of Jews in a trade school or profession, was made two days ago by the Christian Socialist press, which declared that the Austrian, people are “disgusted with the Jewish hegemony and the impudence of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe forced upon Austria by the peace treaty.”
The debate over the numerus clausus is occupying a foremost place in the attention of the press. Some papers point out that a Jewish numerus clausus would fail to impose Jewish restriction but on the contrary would secure the fullest equality for the Jewish minority in proportion to the Christian ma-majority. This, they point out, would affect the Christian majority in agriculture, certain trades and professions, where Jews at present are almost completely unrepresented.
Meanwhile the Jewish press is continuing to support the government led by Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, not because Jews approve of the latest Christian demands, but in view of the fact that the government continues to be stridently anti-Nazi.
The Peasants’ Union is pressing for the numerus clausus, according to the Neuigkeit Weltblatt, demanding an immediate restriction against the Jews in medicine, law and other professions. The paper pointed out that the peasants’ unions are generally known to be in control of determining the government’s policy at present.
Christian Socialists in favor of the numerus clausus give as their reason the allegation that the measure is necessary to check the Austrian youth in its flight from their party to the Nazi faction. Urban Christian Socialists are inclined to doubt the practicability of the measure, but the country classes are strongly in favor of it.
The Democratic press has warned the government to refrain from adding the anti-Semitic issue to their program in their fight against the Socialists and the Nazis.
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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.
