Jan Stanczik, Minister of Labor in the exiled Polish Government and a Socialist leader, declared today that anti-Semitism was not rooted in the Polish people and a new era of cooperation between Poles and Jews would begin with the restoration of the Polish State.
Stanczik spoke, together with other Government representatives, at ceremonies inaugurating a new home of the Association of Polish Jews in France, Saying he spoke both as a Cabinet minister and as a Socialist, he was warmly applauded by the Jewish audience when he asserted:
“We are today in the midst of a fight between modern humanity and the dark middle ages. It is impossible to fight Hitler and approve simultaneously his inhuman racial theory and hatred against the Jews. Anti-Semitism is not rooted in the psychology of the Polish people. Its main representatives are dissatisfied unemployed and intellectuals.
“The moment Poland shall be free again Jews and Poles will be working together for the happiness and well being of all human beings on Polish soil.”
Stanczik’s sentiments were echoed by a special delegate of the Polish propaganda office, who said that the common fight against the German invader “has torn down all barricades between the Jews and the Poles.” He stressed that no differentiation was made in the Polish Army as to race and religion.
Prof. Gurko, another Government representative, declared: “All Polish history shows a spirit of tolerance, and it is wrong to judge the Polish people by its history of the last few years, when the greatest enemy of the Polish people–the German Nazis–were systematically transplanting their inhuman ideas to Poland.” He said that in the reconstructed Poland all citizens would be equal before the law.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
