Poland is expected to make a strong bid to force consideration by the powers of her alleged need of emigration outlets for surplus Jewish population at forthcoming conferences in London and Geneva, political circles reported tonight.
Poland’s contention that she must find an outlet for at least 80,000 Jews annually, which was formally raised at the recent session of the League of Nations, will be studied by an emigration conference under the auspices of the International Labor Office opening Nov. 16 in Geneva.
At the same time, Col. Joseph Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, is expected to raise the issue when he visits London Nov. 8 to 12 at the invitation of Capt. Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary. Reports to this effect were neither confirmed nor denied by the Polish Foreign Office.
While Col. Beck is coming here to discuss matters of “a general nature,” it is generally believed he will either seek concessions from Great Britain in behalf of Polish-Jewish emigration to Palestine, which Britain controls as Mandatory Power for the Holy Land, or else concessions making possible emigration to other overseas countries in exchange for favors which Britain may ask of Poland.
This is particularly to be expected at a time when the Polish Government is seeking some action on the Jewish question to counteract the growing popularity of the opposition anti-Semitic National Democratic Party.
The Government itself is sharply split on the Jewish issue. This is delaying the establishment of a new government party replacing the present coalitionary bloc, which does not have much popular support. The Nationalist faction of the party is seeking to bar “alien minorities” — Jews and Germans–from citizenship, while the proponents of the “state concept” would admit “loyal” elements of the minorities.
The question of the German-Polish minorities convention on Silesia, which expires next July, is also expected to come up during Col. Beck’s visit in London. Britain is likely to seek to persuade Poland to renew the pact. Poland so far has opposed renewal, reportedly because she wishes to undertake a campaign to Polonize the Polish portion of the territory.
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