New-York tribune., 1918-12-18
Polish Chief Puts
Blame for Pogroms
On Ukrainian Army
Says Commission Is Investi-
eating; jewish Leader De-
mands Home Rule and
the Teaching of Yiddish

WARSAW, Dec. Is (By The Associ-
ated Press General Joseph Pilsud-
ski, military head of the Polish. gov
ernment and popular idol of Poland,
spoke freely to-day with the CORE
spondent relative to the situation in
this country.
The Jewish question is most diff
cult he said, "and it will need great
effort and sacrifices on the part Of
both Poles and Jews to reach solu-
ton. One of the best proofs of our
tolerance toward the Jews may be
found in the fact that they were per-
mltted to participate in the recent
election.
"A special commission is Investigate
ing the alleged pogroms at Lemberg.
1t has been established that the first
act. .of the Ukrainians after occupying
.naI clty was to release prisoners from
the Jalls. These prisoners began to
pillage the city, and disorders natural
iy arose.
Trouble Began in Ghetto
when Polish patrols entered the
Eemperg ghetto they were fired upon
from windows and hot water was
poured upon them.
AT the beginning of the trouble the
forces OF Polish regular troops in
Lemberg were unable to cope with the
situation, but when reinforced restored
order and placed in Jail 1900 persons,
many of whom were Ukrainian SOL
diers."
Noah Prilucki, leader of the Jew
lsh Nationalist party, said:
The trouble between the Poles and
the Jews is the outgrowth of the in
disposition of the Poles to meet our
demands in the light of President Will
sons declarations.
Jewish nationalistic aspirations took
form nine years ago, being stimulated d
by the Russian revolution. After the
present war broke out the Jews hoped
to gain political freedom, but friction
between the Poles and Jews began
again. When German occupation came
the Poles accused the Jews of cooper
ating with the Germans, owing to Ger
! man promises. The Germans permit
, ted Jewish newspapers, which had been
suspended at Warsaw, to reappear, al
lowed us to open our schools and gave
certain liberties to both Poles and
Jews. 1t was then that Warsaw elect
Jewish Autonomy Asked
ain this council began the formation
of parties which now exist Our Ma
tionalist party seeks autonomy for the
Jews, recognition by the Polish state
with home rule; the right to have oul
own schools and Libraries and the priv
ilege of using Yiddish in the schools
but to study Polish history and the
Polish language.
eve have no objection to the Polish
flag, but we wish to have the right te
regulate matters affecting Jews. We
have no desire to interfere in foreign
diplomatic matters and we wish to vote
with the Poles on all public matters
including parliamentary elections"
Leo Coldstand, a member of the
Polish Conservative party, although {
Jew, said:
"The whole agitation seems to me
to be largely manufactured and basee
! on false rumors. | believe these ru
mors were started by large number
of Jews interested in securing pecu
liar political rights of their own, in.
stead of living among the Poles as
they do among the English anc
French"
Professor E. Romer, of the Univer.
sity of Cracow, said:
"There are three parties of Jews in
Poland-those wishing to be Poles
/ Zionists wishing to establish them
selves in Palestine, but privileged ia
travel and live elsewhere, and Nation
alists, by which l mean those wishing
, to live among the Poles, but having
special privileges which would make
them a separate body of citizens. The
last two classes have been especially
opposed by the Polish government"