To Abolish Separate Jewish Section in the Greek Elections

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

For nearly eight years the Jews of Salonica have been subjected to special treatment in connection with their participation in the parliamentary elections, which they consider humiliating and detrimental to their interests. In 1920, suspected of anti-Venizelosism, they were asked to vote in separate sections, which was a violation of the principle of secret voting and caused them much annoyance. In 1923, the law of discrimination was enforced still further and they were restricted to a separate constituency, a special electoral curie, as it were, which caused their almost total abstention, and the election as Jewish Deputies of four individuals representing no one at all by less than thirty votes out of more than 10,000 Jewish electors. In 1926, when preportional representation was introduced, the Jewish electoral college was surpressed, but the separate sections were maintained.

M. Venizelos having re-entered politics, new elections have been ordered for October, and they are to take place according to all indications, under a restored majority vote system. Taking into account the repeated protests of the Jews against the separate sections, these are to be suppressed. The Minister of the Interior will submit to the Chamber of Deputies a bill in this sense, which it is felt is certain to be passed into law, releasing the Jewish voters from the special treatment to which they have been subjected.

It is expected that the Jewish population will be represented in the next Chamber of Deputies by four Nationalist Deputies, while at present they are represented by two Nationalists and two Communists.

The National Council of Jewish Women participated in the Conference of the Conseil National des Femmes Juives Francaiscs, held in Paris, July 4 and 5, Jewish women, representing organizations throughout the world, were in Paris for the sessions of the International Social Service Conference, called by the National Council of Jewish Women of Prance. Mme. Zadoc Kahn is president of the French Council.

During her visit to Europe, Mrs. Joseph E. Friend of New Orieans, president of the National Council of Jewish Women, is representing her organization at varfous international conferences.