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Witos Defends Government from Anti-semitism Charge.

July 6, 1923
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Premier Witos of Poland today defended his administration from charges that it had been unfriendly to Jews, in an interview he granted to Jacob Landau, New York director of the J.T.A.

“The reports in a Jewish newspaper in America that I had charged the Jewish members of the Sejm with incorrect dealing toward the Government are erroneous,” Witos said. “Poland is not chauvinistic and she stands firm by her constitutional guarantees of the rights of the minorities. She expects that the Jews will discharge their obligations to the government.”

The Premier declared that the percentage norm question was more theoretical than “actul” at present, adding that the measure for the limitation of Jewish students had been for the present at any rate deferred by the Sejm.

Mr. Landau also was received by the Foreign Minister. M. Seyda. The latter denied that the Polish government was anti-Semitic or chauvinistic, although it is true it was composed of “natural Polish elements.” He declared that Poland was determined to solve the Jewish problem in accordance with Polish standards.

Poland at every opportunity has sought to extend the most liberal rights to minorities, Mr. Seyda said. “Poland has no objections to Russian emigrants passing through Poland, provding their stoopovers are for short periods”, he contended.

The minister said that of late he has been pleased to note in the Jewish press of the U.S. and Canada an improvement in its attitude towards Poland.

With regard to the minority clauses in the Versailles treaty, M. Seyda said that Polish circles viewed these guarantees with displeasure because there was conveyed in them an impression of mistrust of Poland’s intention to deal justly with all its inhabitants.

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