Declaring the former Polish Government’s anti-Semitic policy was one of the factors responsible for Germany’s quick victory, Dr. Ignacy Schwartzbard, Jewish member of the Polish National Council–Poland’s Parliament-in-exile–demanded in a speech to the council yesterday that the Jews be accorded better treatment in the future Polish State.
Dr. Schwartzbard announced that at the forthcoming debate on the budget he intended to formulate a number of demands, including creation of a department for Jewish affairs in the present Polish Cabinet and inclusion of Jews in the Government’s administrative staff.
After the Jewish deputy’s 40-minute address, General Ghelichovski declared from the tribune that if he were a Jew he would have delivered a similar speech. The speech and the Government members’ comment created an impression on the Council members.
Dr. Schwartzbard said that this being his first address before the Council he felt it necessary to point out that he represented no special Jewish group or party but considered himself as a fighter for the interests of the entire Jewish population of Poland. Endorsing the statement of Premier Wiadialaw Sikorski that the Polish Jews had tied up their fate with the fate of the Polish nation, he expressed the hope that this would lead to mutual obligations.
“Polish Jewry,” he said, “is making and will make all sacrifices, but it expects also better treatment now as well as in the future Polish State. The victory of France and England is now the main interest of the present Polish generation.”
Reviewing past events, Dr. Schwartzbard said that the anti-Semitic policy of the OZON (Camp of National Unity) Government was among the principal factors responsible for Germany’s quick victory over Poland since the OZON was inclined to be pro-German, thus paralyzing politically and economically the Polish resistance against Nazism.
“The Jews, who were proclaimed by the OZON as the enemies of Poland, are now fighting in the ranks of the Polish army, while the German ‘friend’ is plundering and enslaving the Polish people,” he asserted. “Such is the outcome of the policy of the former Polish Government.”
The Jewish representative praised the intentions of the present provisional Government but said he expected action and preparations for a change in the atmosphere of the Polish people regarding the Jewish people.
He pointed out that the Jews had volunteered in the Polish army in France from all parts of the world, including Palestine, Belgium, the Netherlands and other neutral countries. He demanded that a spirit of brotherhood prevail in the Polish Army’s ranks and that the anti-Semitic propaganda conducted by some elements be eliminated.
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