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Racial Equality Cited by Soviet As Poll on Annexation is Opened

October 23, 1939
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Establishment of racial equality was among points being stressed by the Russian Government as Polish Ukrainians and White Russians went to the polls today to vote on annexation to the Soviet Union. Other points cited in favor of annexation were distribution of land formerly owned by big Polish proprietors to the peasants and the elimination of unemployment.

Soviet officials, offering proof of racial equality, said that today for the first time Jews, Poles, Ukrainians and White Russians were voting on time of equality for equal national and cultural rights. They said that 114 schools have already been opened in the Novogrudek district, that the pupils were being permitted to choose their own language of instruction and that for the first time Jewish pupils were allowed to share the school-rooms of other races and were not required to attend school on Saturday.

Many “intellectuals,” it was stated, have been put to work on pro-Soviet propaganda, including attacks on the Polish Socialist Party and the Bund, Jewish Socialist Party.

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