Neutral governments interested in saving Hungarian Jews from being deported to extermination camps are permitting their diplomatic representatives in Budapest to issue passports to a limited number of these Jews, thus accepting them as citizens and offering them their protection, it is reported in Hungarian newspapers reaching here today.
“A number of Jews,” the Budapest paper Magyarsag writes, “who only recently wore a yellow Star of David, are now seen on the streets of Budapest without any such insignia. They are conspicuous by their insolent behavior. These Jews have found a back door since certain neutral countries displayed readiness to grant them citizenship.
“We cannot raise any objection to this procedure,” the paper continues. “But we consider the action of the neutral governments as an unfriendly act and as sabotage of our Hungarian laws.” In retaliation against the Jews who secured neutral citizenship, the paper urges the Hungarian authorities to see to it that no labor permits are granted to them, since they fall into the category of aliens. “A proper check-up should be carried out to determine the sources of income of these Jews after they have been deprived of permits to earn a livelihood in Hungary,” the article suggests.
HUNGARIAN ANTI-SEMITIC LEADERS INVITED TO GERMANY
A number of leading Hungarian anti-Semites are now en route to Germany, invited to participate in a conference called by Col. Fleischauer, notorious Nazi Jew baiter and head of the anti-Semitic World Service which the German government publishes in many languages for dissemination throughout the world.
The conference, which will be held in Erfurt, will be devoted to “tasks in connection with the struggle against the Jews,” the Hungarian press reports. The Hungarian delegation includes a number of members of parliament and high officials connected with the Hungarian Institute on Jewish Question.
Budapest newspapers also report the arrest of Kazmer Kallay, nephew of the former Hungarian Prime Minister. He is charged with smuggling Jews out of Hungary. Istvan Penzes, a prominent Hungarian, was also arrested on the charge that he helped Kallay. Penzes is the owner of a large estate, one part of which is on Hungarian soil and the other in Slovakia. The Jews are said to have crossed on his estate from Hungary to Slovakia.
The Budapest radio today announced that the Hungarian Minister of Interior has issued an order closing all shops of Jewish artisans who sell not only own products, but also articles produced by other artisans. The order goes into effect immediately, the broadcast said.
Addressing a public meeting, Laszlo Baky, secretary of the Ministry of Interior, warned the Hungarian people that they should not expect immediate distribution of confiscated Jewish property. “Jewish land and property.” he said, “will be distributed only after the return of our fighters from the front , since they must be given preference.”
HUNGARY REJECTS APPEAL OF ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
The Hungarian Telegraphic Agency today reported that “political circles in Budapest” are incensed over the appeal made by the Archbishop of Canterbury in behalf of the Jews of Hungary. “The British Archbishop should first preach humanitarism in his own ranks and among the Allies rather than lament about a few hundred thousand Jews who have been interned because they are politically compromised,” the Hungarian news agency adds.
The Hungarian newspaper Magyarszo reports that on July 11 tumultuous scenes took place in front of the pastoral offices in Budapest when thousands of Jews attempted to secure baptism. The rush was due to a rumor that any Jew baptised no later than July 11th would be exempt from the anti-Jewish laws.
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.
