The Hungarian Government, explaining its bill to restrict Jewish participation in commerce and industry, declared today that the Jews had obtained “a stranglehold over the entire Hungarian economic life.”
In a statement on its law “for more effective maintenance of the social and economic balance” of the country, the Government emphasized that since 1848, the Jewish population had increase fivefold.
“This rapidly growing section of the population has, during the last ninety years, gradually obtained a stranglehold over the entire Hungarian economic life and occupied the most important posts,” the statement asserted.
The standard of living of the Christian population of Hungary suffered a great decline, the Government maintained, while the living standard of the Jews not only suffered no decline, but even improved. The Christian section of the population has been pushed back in the economic, spiritual and social spheres since the Trianon Treaty, the statement continues, which imposed “the urgent duty” on the Government of solving this problem in a radical manner to restore “the disturbed equilibrium.”
“The solution of this problem is particularly urgent in view of the necessity of providing jobs for Christian youth and assuring the sons of Hungarian peasantry a chance for betterment of the social standing,” the Government stated.
The authorities also published a detailed statistical table illustrating the social and economic position of the Jewish and Christian populations in Hungary and the territorial distribution of the Jewish population.
Meanwhile, a by-law providing for proportionate distribution of public works contracts between Christian and Jewish contractors was approved by the Budapest Municipal Administrative Committee. The resolution, introduced by Councillor Petrovacz, was strongly opposed by Socialist Karl Peyer.
Councillor Peyer denounced proposed anti-Jewish laws as a disgrace, warning that the proposed measures would paralyze economic life and increase unemployment. “It will be impossible to allay unchained passions,” he declared. “After the Jews, the clergy will be attacked.”
The by-law was adopted together with an amendment offered by Vice-Mayor Karl Lamotte providing that it would be enforced only when required by Government order.
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.
