The organ of the Turkish government, Vakit, today attacks the Liberal party for permitting the various minority groups, especially the Jews, to become candidates in the forthcoming municipal elections. Vakit claims that Fethi Bey, leader of the Liberal party, has “created a new menace which we thought we had got rid of” by granting the minorities the right to be elected.
The criticism of the government’s organ is believed due to the fact that the Liberal party has drawn to its support almost all the Jews of the country who have hitherto not been permitted to be candidates for public office. Because of the Liberal party’s promise of economic and political equality, and its program of tax reduction and economic reforms the Jews have flocked to its banners.
The economic policy of the Mustapha Kemal Pasha government has impelled some 50,000 Jews to emigrate from Turkey and those left see in the Liberal party hope of restoring their former position.
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