Henry Morgenthau, Sr

“ Poland must promptly develop its full strength, and by its conduct first merit and then receive the unstinted moral, financial and economic support of all the world, which will insure the future success of the republic. ”

“ Thus, in almost every one of the cities and towns of Poland, Jews have been stopped by the soldiers and have had their beards either torn out or cut off. As the Orthodox Jews feel that the shaving of their beards is contrary to their religious belief, this form of persecution has a particular significance to them. As a result many of them are afraid to travel. The result of all these minor persecutions is to keep the Jewish population in a state of ferment and to subject them to the fear that graver excesses may again occur. ”

“ To hasten this, there should be reconciliation and co-operation between the 86 per cent Christians and 14 per cent Jews. The 86 per cent must realize that they cannot present a solid front against their neighbors if one-seventh of their population is discontented, fear-stricken, and inactive. The minority must be encouraged to participate with their whole strength and influence in making Poland the great unified country that is required in Central Europe to combat the tremendous dangers that confront it. ”

“ When in November, 1918, the Austrian and German armies of occupation left Poland, there was no firm government until the arrival of General Pilsudski, who had escaped from a German prison, and it was during this period, before the Polish Republic came into being, that the first of the excesses took place. The use of the word "pogrom” has purposely been avoided, as the word is applied to everything from petty outrages to premeditated and carefully organized massacres. No fixed definition is generally understood. ”

“ There should be no discrimination in the choice of professors and teachers, nor in the selection of railroad employees, policemen, and firemen, or the incumbents of any other positions which are placed under the civil service in England and the United States. Like other democracies, Poland must realize that these positions must not be drawn into politics. Efficiency can only be attained if the best men are employed, irrespective of party or religion.
16. The relations between the Jews and non-Jews will undoubtedly improve in a strong democratic Poland. ”

“ The great majority of Jews in Poland belong to separate Jewish political parties. The largest of these are the Orthodox and Zionist and the National. Since the Jews form separate political groups, it is probable that some of the Polish discrimination against them is political rather than anti-Semitic in character. The dominant Polish parties give to their supporters Government positions and Government patronage. It is to be hoped, however, that the Polish majority will not follow this system in the case of positions which are not essentially political. ”

“ Even at the present time, this campaign is being waged by most of the non-Jewish press, which constantly advocates that the economic boycott be used as a means of ridding Poland of its Jewish element. This agitation has created in the minds of some of the Jews the feeling that there is an invisible rope around their necks, and they claim that this is the worst persecution that they can be forced to endure. Non-Jewish laborers have in many cases refused to work side by side with Jews. ”

“ Whereas it has been easy to determine the excesses which took place and to fix the approximate number of deaths, it was more difficult to establish the extent of anti-Jewish discrimination. This discrimination finds its most conspicuous manifestation in the form of an economic boycott. The National Democratic Party has continuously agitated the economic strangling of the Jews. Through the press and political announcement, as well as by public speeches, the nonJewish elements of the Polish people is urged to abstain from dealing with the Jews. ”

“ The friends of the Jews in America, England, and elsewhere who have already evinced such great interest in their welfare, will enthusiastically grasp the opportunity to cooperate in working out any good solution that such a commission may propound. The fact that it may take one or two generations to reach the goal must not be discouraging.
19. All citizens of Poland should realize that they must live together. They can not be divorced from each other by force or by any court of law. ”

“ In considering the causes for the anti-Semitic feeling, which has brought about the manifestations described above, it must be remembered that ever since the partition of 1705 the Poles have striven to be reunited as a nation and to regain their freedom. This continual effort to keep alive their national aspirations has caused them to look with hatred upon anything which might interfere with their aims. ”

“ The concentration of the Jews in certain districts or quarters in Polish cities also emphasizes the line of demarcation separating them from other citizens.
14. The strained relations between the Jews and the non-Jews have been further increased, not only by the great war, during which Poland was the battleground for the Russian, German and Austrian armies, but also by the present conflicts with the Bolsheviki and Ukrainians. The economic condition of Poland is at its lowest ebb. Manufacturing and commerce have virtually ceased. ”

“ The responsibility for these excesses is borne for the most part by the undisciplined and ill-equipped Polish recruits who, uncontrolled by their inexperienced and oftimes timid officers, sought to profit at the expense of that portion of the population which they regarded as alien and hostile to Polish nationality and aspirations. It is recognized that the enforcement of discipline in a new and untrained army is a matter of extreme difficulty. ”

“ The shortage, the high price, and the imperfect distribution of food are a dangerous menace to the health and welfare of the urban population. As a result hundreds of thousands are suffering from hunger and are but half-clad, while thousands are dying of disease and starvation. The cessation of commerce is particularly felt by the Jewish population, who are almost entirely depended upon it. Owing to the conditions described, prices have doubled and tripled and the population has become irritated against the Jewish traders whom it blames for the abnormal increase thus occasioned. ”

“ Unfortunately, when these stores were introduced into Poland they were advertised as a means of eliminating the Jewish trader. The Jews have, therefore, been caused to feel that the establishment of the cooperatives is an attack upon themselves. While the establishment and the maintenance of cooperatives may have been influenced by anti-Semitic sentiment, this is a form of economic activity which any community is perfectly entitled to pursue. ”

“ Over two thousand Jewish houses and stores in the city were entered by Polish soldiers and civilians during these three days, and the inhabitants robbed and beaten. It is claimed by the Jewish community that the consequent losses amounted to over 10,000,000 roubles. Many of the poorest families were robbed of their shoes and blankets. Hundreds of Jews were arrested and deported from the city. Some of them were herded into box cars and kept without food or water for four days. Old men and women were carried away without trial or investigation. ”

“ With no lights except the lamps of a military automobile, the six women in the crowd and about twenty- five men were separated from the mass, and the remainder, thirty-five in number, were shot with scant deliberation and no trial whatever. ”

“ A new life will thus be opened to the Jews and it will be the task of the proposed commission to fit them to profit thereby and to win the same appreciation gained by their coreligionists elsewhere as a valued asset to the commonwealths in which they reside. ”

“ The private houses of many of the Jews were also broken into by soldiers and the inhabitants were beaten and robbed. The Polish Government has stated that four Polish soldiers were killed while attempting to prevent robberies. It had also been stated to the mission that some of the rioters have been executed. 7. There have also been here and there individual cases of murder not enumerated in the preceding paragraphs, but their detailed description has not been considered necessary, inasmuch as they present no characteristics not already observed in the principal excesses. ”

“ Land owners are warned not to sell their property to the Jews, and in some cases where such sales have been made the names of offenders have been posted with black bordered notices stating that such venders were "dead in Poland". ”

“ The Polish troops entered the city at about 10 o’clock in the morning, and by 12 o’clock they had absolute control. Notwithstanding the presence in Minsk of General Jadwin and other members of this mission, and the orders of the Polish Commanding General, forbidding violence against civilians, thirty-one Jews were killed by the soldiers. Only one of the number can in any way be connected with the Bolshevist movement. Eighteen of the deaths appear to have been deliberate murder. ”