Polish Government Charged with Policy of Economic Disinheritance Towards Jews

The Polish Government is charged with conducting a policy of Jewish economic disinheritance, weakness in the matter of preventing the recurrence of the anti-Semitic University riots and a general failure to set an example of tolerance and equality by treating in its own domain the Jews on a footing of equality with their fellow non-Jews, in a statement by the Federation of Polish Jews in America, made public yesterday through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The statement issued by the Administrative Committee of the Federation and signed by Benjamin Winter, president; Z. Tygel, executive Director; and Herman B. Oberman, chairman of the Adminstrative Committee, challenges the statements made by Mieczyslaw Marchlewski, Polish Consul-General in New York, with regard to the serious efforts being made by the Polish government to reconstruct the shattered life of Polish Jewry, religious freedom of the Jews and protection in the universities.

The statement of the Federation pays tribute to the sympathetic attitude of Dr. Marchlewski and to the defense of Jewish rights of Polish officials on the international scene, but declares the situation is wholly different with Poland itself.

“It is our contention,” declares the statement, “that a strongly established government such as the Polish Government is, should use all its resources not only for the suppression of riots in progress, but also to make their recurrence impossible”.

Continuing, the Federation points out “The memory of the excesses of last year being fresh in our minds, we cannot help but feel anxious about their habit of recurrence.”

“We are well aware that the attacks were inspired by the anti-Semitic elements opposed to the present Government with a view to bring discredit and ignominy upon the present regime,” says the statement and emphasizes that “the full severity of the law should be brought to bear not only upon the ignorant and misled followers of the reactionary opponents of the Government, but primarily upon their instigators and leaders. We believe that the laws of Poland give the government ample authority to deal with those subversive elements. The Polish anti-Semites flaunt the law so repeatedly in their destructive actions directed as much against the Jews as against the Government as to provide officials with the legal warrants to proceed against them.”

Profound disagreement is expressed by the Federation with the statement made by some officials that the government is making an effort to ameliorate the condition of the Jews. On the contrary the condition of the Jews is becoming catastrophic instead of better, it states.

“While it may be true that the reconstruction of Polish economic life along modern lines is responsible for the acuteness of the situation, it still is evident that the indescribable distress among the Polish Jews is the result of a systematic and relentlessly persecuted policy of Jewish economic disinheritance.

“The growth of the boycott movement is, we believe, greatly accelerated by the failure of the government to treat in its own domain the Jews on a footing of equality with their fellow non-Jews. Were the Government itself to set an example of tolerance and equality in Government monopolies, public works and civil service, the rest of the country would no doubt sooner or later follow suit.”

The Federation discusses the discrimination against the Jews in the following terms : “We are not aware of any measures taken by the Government to do away with the discrimination practiced in the employment of Jews in the municipalities, in civil service in public works. On the other hand the growth of Government monopolies and the refusal of these monopolies to reemploy the displaced Jewish breadwinners add to the staggering toll of Jewish unemployed.

“The displacement of Jews by the institution of a monopoly in tobacco,” it points out, “has been continued by the monopolization of kerosene and oil, salt and numerous other necessities. The contemplated monopoly in agricultural products will undoubtedly result in the further augmenting of Jewish misery.

“Add to this the rigid enforcement of the Sunday laws. The manner in which the Government recently attempted to deal with this problem is a just source for concern. It is, in our opinion, conclusively demonstrated by the sinister influence of the anti-Jewish elements upon the Government. For the recently promulgated decree allowing the two or three hours to trade on Sunday has been quickly rescinded and referred to the Sejm for further consideration, exposing it to the uncertainty of legislative wrangling.

“Contrast this action with numerous decrees of great national importance that the Government promulgates without reference to the Legislature,” the Federation comments.

Turning to the subject of the alleged freedom granted Jewish communities to organize their religious and communal affairs, the Federation says, “We are sorry also to be compelled to disputed this alleged freedom. We point to the twentieth article in the constitution of the Jewish Communities, which had the effect of nullifying this freedom. We regret to say that the Government has seen fit to introduce politics into communal Jewish institutions and thus make itself master in internal Jewish affairs.

“In spite of the handicaps under which they are laboring, the Jews are anxious and eager to contribute their share in the upbuilding of a modern, happy and powerful Poland. All they ask is a chance for the employment of their native abilities and demonstrated energy.”