Lithuanian Jewry was alarmed and depressed today at an open Government move in support of the movement to exclude Jews from the nation’s economic life, as fostered principally by the anti-Semitic merchants’ association known as Verslininkai.
The move was signalized by the participation of Premier General Jonas Cernius at the opening session last night of the organization’s annual congress. In the role of guest of honor, General Cernius flatly pledged the Government’s support to the association in its efforts to eliminate Jews from Lithuanian trade and industry.
Jewish circles expressed surprise at this development, pointing out that the speech of the Premier and other prominent persons at the congress contradicted previous Government declarations as well as the Premier’s assurances to the Jews shortly after he took office.
(On March 29, General Cernius said in a declaration read in Parliament that the Government would not infringe on the rights of minorities and would continue the centuries-old tradition of friendship between the Lithuanian people and the national minorities. He added that no one would be persecuted because of race or religion. On April 5, the Premier read in Parliament another statement warning that incitement against minorities would not be tolerated. In a private talk with Jewish representatives later, he promised that there would be no anti-Jewish restrictions in Lithuania’s economic life.)
Greeting the congress last night in the name of the Government, General Cernius declared the Cabinet was governed by the same ideals as the Verslininkai and was aiming to realize the goal expressed in the slogan, “Lithuania for Lithuanians.” The nation’s cities, he said, must be “Lithuanized” and occupied by Lithuanian industrialists, merchants and artisans. The Verslininkai must work indefatigably in this direction “knowing that the Government is always backing them,” the Premier added.
Other high Government officials, generals and Government adherents spoke in similar vein, stressing the necessity to replace “alien elements” in the nation’s industry and trade by “genuine Lithuanians.”
A report submitted to the congress stated that measures had been taken to establish in Lithuania, with the financial aid of American Lithuanians, large companies to prevent establishment of new Jewish enterprises intended to replace Jewish industries ruined by the German occupation of Memelland. According to the report, efforts have been made to prevent Jews from obtaining permission to erect factories, Jewish merchants from being granted import licenses and Jewish contractors from obtaining Government contracts.
The report urged the Government to pass a rigid Sunday closing law and to shift the big provincial market days to Saturdays. Lithuanian enterprises, it declared, will in the future be marked by special signs.
A few delegates to the congress who opposed chauvinistic resolutions proposed for adoption were prevented from speaking.
It was announced that a delegation from the Verslininkai would shortly go to the United States to raise money for the projected enterprises.
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.
