Paris Jury Fastened Guilt on Petlura, Exonerated Schwartzbard and Ukrainian People, is Concensus of Opinion; Better Relations between Ukrainians and Jews Sought
A statement formulating the views of Ukrainian Jews in this country was issued by the Federation of Ukrainian Jews in the United States following the conclusion of the Schwartzbard trial.
“Acquitting Schwartzbard, the French court has also acquitted the Ukrainian people of the accusation made by the Petlura defense against the Ukrainians,” the statement declared.
“From now on it will be known: Petlura was guilty in the pogroms, but not the Ukrainian people. We Ukrainian Jews have always asserted that were it not for the inexcusable inciting of the followers of Petlura, Denikin and the others, the Ukrainian people would not have committed the pogroms and the peace between the Jews and the Ukrainians would never have been disturbed. Due to the pogrom agitation tens of thousands of Jewish lives were taken. It was this agitation which led to Petlura’s death at the hands of Schwartzbard, who is now acquitted by the French court.
“We are satisfied with the verdict and we are convinced that the Ukrainian people will now recognize that not the Jews are their enemies but those who incited them to pogroms against the Jews,” the statement declared.
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