Rabinavicius, Lithuanian Consul General in New York, Resigns His Post

Henrikas Rabinavicius, Consul General of the Lithuanian Republic in New York, quit his post yesterday. The Jewish Daily Bulletin learns that the resignation of Mr. Rabinavicius was forced by Prime Minister, Professor Voldeinaras, and was due to the fact that Mr. Rabinavicius is a Jew. Prime Minister Voldemaras stated he did not wish to retain a Jew in a diplomatic position.

The resignation of Mr. Rabinavicius evoked much attention in Jewish and Lithuanian circles, especially in view of the fact that Professor Voldemaras persisted in his decision to remove Mr. Rabinavicius despite the advices he received from the Lithuanian Legation in Washington, urging him to retain Mr. Rabinavicius in his post.

While Mr. Rabinavicius was asked to resign by the Prime Minister, the latter tried, nevertheless, to create the impression that this step was taken by Mr. Rabinavicius, declaring in an interview with Jewish newspapermen in Lithuania that he had received word from Mr. Rabinavicius that he had voluntarily resigned.

When interviewed by the representative of the Jewish Daily Bulletin, Mr. Rabinavicius made the following statement.

“Various remarks have appeared in the press in connection with a statement made by the Lithuanian Prime Minister, Prof. Voldemaras, on January 8th, that I could not hold the post of Consul General in New York because I am a Jew. My resignation has subsequently been caused by Prime Minister Voldemaras and made effective August 1st.

“I wish to state that, in my opinion, this incident should not call for general accusation of the Lithuanian people or the Lithuanian government of systematic anti-Semitism. The Lithuanian people have, since the Middle Ages, lived on friendly terms with the Jews. Under the Czars’ regime, when pogroms took place in various parts of Russia, of which Lithuania was a part, there were never any pogroms in Lithuania.

“After the World War, the Jews have actively supported the re-establishment of the Lithuanian Independence, both by sacrifices on the battlefields against the Bolsheviks and the Poles, as well as by various activities at home and abroad.

“During my nine years of Government Service, holding responsible posts, I have learned from my contact with Lithuanian leaders of various parties, of the spirit of goodwill and racial and religious tolerance among them, which has always been a tradition with the Lithuanian people,” Mr. Rabinavicius continued.

“It is true that I have met with a few disagreeable cases of intolerance, but general condemnation of those few individuals by the great majority of Lithuanians, has caused me to be convinced that smaller incidents ought to be disregarded in the interests of encouraging good-will.

“On December 21, 1926, shortly after the formation of the present Lithuanian Nationalistic Government, the ‘Jewish Daily Bulletin’ published a despatch, stating that the new Lithuanian Government issued an appeal to the population intended to pacify public opinion. The despatch further stated: ‘The proclamation says that of all the minorities, only the Jews are a loyal element with whom co-operation is possible.’ A similar, even much stronger, proclamation in favor of the Jews, was made by Prime Minister Slezevicius in the year 1919, in order to counteract anti-Semitic agitation caused by a handful of troublemakers. The Government’s action had the desired effect, Lithuania deserves credit for such steps,” Mr. Rabinavicius declared.