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Lithuanian Official Pledges Stern Action to Check Anti-jewish Violence in Wilno

November 7, 1939
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Minister of Interior Kazys Skucas declared today that further anti-Jewish rioting in Wilno would not be tolerated and that police had been ordered in the future to fire on hooligans.

Directors of all Polish colleges in Wilno were called together, General Skucas told the Wilno Jewish leader Dr. Jacob Wygodski, and were requested to influence the students to maintain discipline and order.

Dr. Wygodski was also received by Premier Jonas Cernius, who declared that all persons living in Wilno before 1920 were automatically Lithuanian citizens and the others would be examined individually.

The Government has taken steps to obtain the return to Wilno of those inhabitants arrested by the Soviet authorities before turning over the city to Lithuania. (Among those reported taken to Russia from Wilno are Zalman Reizen, authority on Yiddish literature; Joseph Czernichow, attorney, and his son; Anna Rosenthal, the bankers Lewin, Chwoles and Zaks and a number of physicians and leaders of the Jewish Socialist and Jewish People’s Party.)

Refugees in Wilno will be allowed to establish business enterprises and will be given residence permits and freedom of occupation, it was stated.

The Government, meanwhile, authorized admission of all refugees from the Nazi-held Polish district of Suwalki, on condition they settle in provincial towns.

The Wilno authorities decided to permit emigration to Russia of all those who desire to do so before Nov. 10.

The entire Lithuanian press published the Interior Minister’s declaration asking cooperation with the Jews.

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