Bill to Disfranchise Polish Jews. Cut Population in Half Urged on Next Parliament

A periodical identified with high Government circles proposed a bill today which would deprive Poland’s 3,500,000 Jews of the right to vote, forbid their participation in the nation’s cultural life and provide an emigration plan that would halve the Jewish population.

The publication, Zespl, organ of circles close to Agriculture Minister J. Poniatowski,urged introduction of the bill in the parliament which is to be elected next month as a “solution of the Jewish problem as a state problem to be solved by legal means.” the Poniatowski group belongs to a section of the government bloc which is opposed to a totalitarian regime.

Publication of the project confirms widespread reports that such measures would be introduced at the first session of the newly-elected Sejm. the proposed bill defines a jew as a person either of the Jewish religion himself or whose parents professed judaism. Exceptions are provided for those possessing “psychological, cultural and social qualities characteristic of the polish people.”

At presented by Zespl, the law project includes the following provisions: Jews would not have the right to vote in parliamentary or municipal elections, but would be represented on communal institutions, without voting rights, where the Jewish population comprised at least 20 per cent of the total population; 2) Jews would be barred as state and municipal employes and from holding army commissions; 3) entrance to the professions would be prohibited until the number of Jews in professional occupations was reduced to a figure to be determined, but no Jews would be admitted to such professions as teaching and journalism; 4) Emigration of Jews must proceed at a pace halving the present Jewish population within ten years, with repressive measures in the form of taxes if they failed to maintain the pace provided by the plan,” 5) emigrating Jews would be enabled to take with them their fortunes in the form of special bonds, with the government helping foreign Jews to maintain the value of the bond issue.