American Jewish Protest Against Anti-jewish Movement in Poland: President of Warsaw Jewish Community

An extraordinary meeting of the Warsaw Jewish Community Administration has been held here, specially convoked by the President, Mr. Eli Mazur (Agudist) in order to consider a proposal presented to him by the Central Federation of Jewish Merchants with regard to the protest movement started in America against the anti-Jewish outbreaks in Poland, the Central Federation of Jewish Merchants (whose President, Deputy Waclaw Wislicki, is one of the Jewish members of the Government Party), urging that the Warsaw Jewish Community should send a cable to American Jewry explaining the true position.

Mr. Mazur submitted to the meeting the text of a resolution, which he suggested should be cabled to American Jewry, adding that he himself was in favour of cabling the text proposed.

In view of the inexact reports which are in circulation in American Jewry about the recent excesses in the Polish Universities, the resolution read out by Mr. Mazur says, the Administration of the Jewish Community of Warsaw, wishing to make clear the real position, places it on record that there have been regrettable excesses recently at the Universities, provoked by the action of a section of the Polish student youth, who tried to prevent Jewish students obtaining admission to the lectures. As a result of the agitation conducted by one of the Polish political Parties, the excesses spread to a number of towns, causing mental confusion. There was a very considerable section of the Polish public, however, that took no hand in the outbreaks, and condemned them. The Polish Government in its statements made both in Parliament and in the press was rigorously opposed to the excesses and suppressed them, assuring the maintenance of law and order in the Jewish streets.

Mr. Leon Finkelstein (Folkist) opposed the sending of the proposed cable. The Warsaw Jewish Community ought not to interfere in the affairs of American Jewry, he said. A short while ago, he pointed out, there was a Polish-Jewish Goodwill Committee formed in America. We in Poland did not like it, but we did not approach the American Jews about it. And in the same way we ought not to interfere now when the American Jews want to protest against the excesses and the boycott in Poland. He moved next business, or else, he said, they should inform the American Jews that the excesses are a result of the general position of the Jews of Poland inasmuch as they are considered outside the law.

Mr. Rudno (Agudath Israel) urged that the message as read out by the President should be cabled to America. Mr. Morgenstern (Non-Partisan) said that he would vote for the resolution. Mr. Feldstein (Zionist) agreed that the excesses were a result of the general position of the Jewish population in being considered outside the law. Mr. Szeranski (Mizrachi) said that the National Democrats were at war with the Government, and the Jews, ought not to interfere in the fight, and consequently he was opposed to adopting any resolution of the kind suggested. Mr. Stickgold (Non-Partisan) said the American Jews had not asked the Polish Jews for their views on the situation, so there was no point in butting in, and the idea about sending them a cable should be dropped. Mr. Ellenberg (Zionist) objected that it was the Jewish members of the Government Parliamentary Party who were behind the whole thing, suggesting the sending of a cable of the kind proposed in order to shield the Government. He thought they should ignore the suggestion. At most, he thought, they should adopt a resolution giving the true facts about the occurrences, bringing out the essential point about the lack of Jewish rights in Poland.

When the question was put to the vote, it was decided by seven against five not to send the proposed cable to America.

Another resolution was adopted which reads: “In view of the fact that the Community Administration has already declared its position with regard to the excesses at one of its previous meetings, and has issued a proclamation on the subject, which is known also in New York, it is not necessary to send a telegram now to New York.

It was decided at the same time that there should be a special meeting called of the Community Administration to consider protective measures against the anti-Jewish boycott.