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Polish Government Party Demands Emigration, Reduction of Jewish Influence

May 23, 1938
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The Government’s Camp of National Unity, holding Poland’s 3,500,000 Jews to be outside the nation, demanded today the curtailment of their participation in economic life and reduction of their numbers by immigration regulated by international cooperation. At the conclusion of a three-day conference devoted chiefly to the Jewish question, the council of the Government party adopted a twelve-paragraph program regarding the Jews.

Stating that the party aimed at creation of a great Poland, the resolution emphasized that the Jews, being a political factor connected with Jewish groups outside the State, had separate national aims, weakened Polish national forces and interfered with national evolution.

Condemning “demagogic and anarchistic” attempts to solve the Jewish problem which were interfering with public order, the party expressed belief in the necessity of reducing the number of Jews by emigration. It voiced sympathy with the creation of a Jewish State in Palestine, but, in view of the limited possibility for Palestine immigration, it also favored immigration elsewhere, regulated by international cooperation.

Regarding Jewish participation in economic life as excessive, the party favored reduction of the Jewish share in trade and industry by legislative means. It also referred to the necessity of reducing Jewish cultural influence in the press, theater and radio. It held that Jewish participation in the Polish school system must be reduced by the school authorities, not by action of the school youth.

Poland does not desire to assimilate the Jews, the party said, but will consider as Poles those individual Jews connected with Polish interests and culture. At the same time the resolution demanded loyalty of the Polish Jews and warned Jewish leaders that utilization of international connections to damage Polish interests would be punished and would damage Jewish interests.

Meanwhile, the Council for Foreign Trade declared that the “Aryanization” of export trade would be harmful to the economic interests of Poland. The Council made the statement in rejecting a demand submitted to the Minister of Commerce by the Christian Merchants’ Association that exports association be formed in the eggs, fowl and feathers trade to eliminate Jews. The association also demanded introduction of “ghetto” sections for Jewish traders in market fairs throughout Poland “to calm the atmosphere and avoid disturbances.

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