The Denver Jewish news., 1919-02-26
KerenskyD DiscussesJews
And Bolshevism
RUSSIAN JEWS LOYAL TO REV
OLUTION AND SAFEGUARDING
RUSSIA'S INTERESTS.


Yes, / am sorry to say that many
Bolshevik chiefs are Jews: unfortu-
nately so for the Jewish people.
But on the other hand, % psr cent
of the Russian Jews are against the
BOlsheviks, and during the whole of
the revolution the Jewish intellectuals
and the Jewish masses, of all non
Russian races, We're the most faithful
supporters of the revolution, with
which they wore closely linked. as well
as with the general interests of the
country.
And altho numerous Jews are to
be found amongst the Bolshevik lead
ers, they are rcnegrades. most OF
whom had emigrated. had lost every
contact with Russia and were no long
er representative of Russian Icwry.
.The same can be said of the Ifol-
shevik Let's, Poles, etc. They all have
become cosmopOlitans. no longer pro.
Tossing specifically Russian feelings
and IDEAS
"Could you give me few details
about the part taken by the Jews in
l. the revolution?" l asked.
when, in the first days of the rev.
olution, l was Minister of Justice.
decreed the full emancipation of the
Jews. thus granting Them the same
rights as to all the 7other citizens of
the state.
"The Jewish masses at once real
lied that their fate was now indis
solnbly bound up with the revolution.
and that they had to help il with
all their power.
.'They knew, indeed, from expert
ence that anarchy. upheavals. politi-
cal trouble. etc. Invariably had the
result of provoking posroms and per.
sccutiOn of the Jews. Besides. the
intcllectuals and the Jewish working
classes were always ardent adherents
of the Rcvolutiunarics, The Socialists
and the Liberals.
During the revolution the Jew,
everywhere worked together with the
I parties who had coalcsced to organize
and support the Provincial Govern.
mcnt.
"The Jewish bankers. firms. work
ers unions, the Bund--they We're al!
for national defense and for co-opera-
tiOn with the moderate bourgeois cle.
ments in the upbuilding of the new
state. Something more. For the sake
of the common cause and in order not
Ia.
solidarity of the people. they never
pressed the specific Jewish questions.
"They preferred to wait until the
return of more normal times. Tho
Jewish leaders never wished of their
own will to take II prominent part in
the government, as they. feared tha.
If they assumed responsible positions
mt once it might rouse the anger of the
masses and supply the anti-Semites
with an excuse for recommending an
internal struggle.
Il ami glad to express the opinion
that thruOut the revolution the Jews
remained. and still remain. faithful to
the revolutionary principles and to the
integral safeguarding of ltussin's in
terests."
THE Jews were accused of treason
when, before the revolution. the Ger
mans advanced into Poland. What
was your experience:' l asked.
Here you touch II real tragedy. If
you had asked me whether the Jew.
ish masses more than any other race
indulged in espionage. should say
No!
"But we must not lose sight of the
fact that under the Tsarist regime the
Jews exclusively We're oppressed and
perSecuted. Is it therefore not sur
prising that they remained somewhat
neutral and showed no special en-
thusiasm for the war?
$50 when the Germans overran parts
of Russia the position of the Jews he
came better. and they had no desire
to see the Germans go: whilst before.
under the pretext that all the Jews
were spies and traitors. life occasion
ally was made unhearabc to them.
Il am anxious 10 add that if the
Jewish masses were neutral the lead
ers of Russian Jewry, even during the
reign of autocraty. remained staunch
to Russ;a's cause and to the common
cause of the Allies. As have al
ready said. they behaved splcndidly
| during the first revolution"
what will he the position of the
! Jews in Russia when normal condi-
! tions are rcstorcd?" | asked.
well. the same as in any other
civilized country"
4 suppose you mean to- say that
| from q legal stamdpOint they will en-