Strong measures to end “anarchy” and anti-Semitic disorders in Polish universities were pledged today by Education Minister Swietoslawski. Speaking during a debate in a Parliament budget committee, Dr. Swietoslawski reproached Polish students for failing to resist hooliganism in the universities which he said was debasing their own dignity and the principles of common humanity.
“The Government,” he said, “will use all available means to end anarchy and restore order in the universities. Our university youth is growing up in an unhealthy atmosphere as far as relations among citizens of other nationalities is concerned. Exaggerated nationalism has a harmful effect upon the Polish young generation. The unhealthy atmosphere prevailing in the universities is due to foreign influence and strong measures will be adopted to remove it.
“The world must unite,” he continued, “in combatting exaggerated nationalism, A way must be found to end antagonism, particularly in regions where for centuries two or more nations have lived side by side. Certain political groups are devoting their energies to using the universities to promote their political aims.”
Describing the position of the Jewish student body, Dr. Swietoslawski declared that apart from recent anti-Semitic excesses in Warsaw and Lwow, the general situation this year was better than in the previous year. He said extreme political groups, however, were using every means to disturb order in the universities. “Every method,” he said, “is regarded as justified by these gentlemen, even the use of arms against helpless Jewish students and non-Jewish students who criticized the methods and helped the Jews or wanted to sit with them,” The disorders went so far, the Education Minister concluded, that blood was spilt in the universities, two Jewish students dying of wounds inflicted in attacks by anti-Semitic students.
Replying to Dr. Swietoslawski, Deputy Emil Sommerstein pointed out that the university rectors had capitulated to Nationalist demands by introducing “ghetto benches” for the Jewish students. He demanded cancellation of extra-territoriality in the higher schools on the ground that maintenance of order was impossible as long as the attacks went unpunished.
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