Premier Koloman Daranyi today defended before a joint Parliamentary committee the Government’s bill to restrict Jews to twenty per cent in commerce, industry and other economic activities. He denied that the proposal infringed on Jewish equality of rights.
“When it is pleaded that the law on Jews violates the great principles of equality of rights and spiritual freedom, then I say that from the point of view of national unity, the legislature has a right to solve these problems,” the Premier declared.
“The great principles must naturally not be violated, but it is their spirit, not the letter, that is inviolable. The Government must create equal opportunities for all to earn a living. Present economic inequality must be redressed.”
Admitting that Jews had done much to develop Hungarian industry, trade and finance, Premier Daranyi said that the Hungarian State had played an equal role by facilitating the development. Jews were inspired not only by the desire to serve the State, but also by the desire to make profits, he said, adding that a section of the Jews had obtained a Monopolistic position in certain enterprises.
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