Starving Jews of Carpatho-Russia Accused of Being Responsible for Distress Among Carpatho-Russian Po

The critical position in Carpatho-Russia, where large numbers of the population are starving, is all due to the Jews, is an allegation made in "Venkov", the central organ of the Czech Agrarian Party, which constitutes the Government of the province, and in other papers in the Carpatho-Russian province, causing great anxiety among the Jewish inhabitants. The Jews have been exploiting the peasants by usury and by selling them alcohol, the papers allege, and thus they are responsible for all the sufferings which are now being experienced in the province.

The President of the province, of Carpatho-Russia, M. Pozsypal, one of the leaders of the Agrarian Party, has in this connection published a statement in the "Official Gazette" of the Carpatho-Russian Government, in which he says:

The accusation made in the Czech press that the Jews in Carpatho-Russia are Communists is an injustice. Communism has taken hold only of about 100 unemployed Jewish discontents. The distress in Carpatho-Russia has taken hold of all inhabitants, including the Jewish inhabitants, who are bearing their sufferings calmly and loyally.

The delegates of the Jewish Women’s Relief Committee for Carpatho-Russia, #arie Schmolka and Thekla Freud, who have been distributing food and clothing among the distressed Jewish population of the province, report in the Jewish organ "Selbstwehr" here that the sufferings of the Carpatho-Russian Jews are appalling. In Vrchovina, for instance, 40 per cent. of the Jewish population is destitute. Fundreds of Jews in the mountain villages have fallen ill as a result of starvation, and cannot leave their houses. All the people want work, they write, not charity. Starvation is spreading among the Carpathian Jews, they declare, and the situation is desperate.