The Jewish minority in the political thought of Wincenty Witos

Abstract

Wincenty Witos (1874–1945) was an ideologue, politician, statesman, the mayor of the municipality Wierzchosławice, a member of the Galician National Parliament in Lviv, a member of the Austrian Council of State in Vienna and in Poland, an independent member of the Legislative Sejm, the Sejm first and second term, three times the President of the Council of Ministers. He played a special role in the history of Polish politics. W. Witos was reluctant towards the Jewish minority. It resulted from historical events and economic problems. Despite the prejudices, Witos became the head of the Government of National Defense, took actions aimed at averting instances of anti-Jewish. Despite the fulfilment of a few the demands of the Jewish population, it should be emphasized that for the first time developed specific solutions. The second row of Witos and the cooperation with the National Democrats led to the acceptance of certain views of anti-Jewish nationalists. His unfavourable attitude towards the Jews Witos justified with their disloyal attitude towards the state and their lack of prospects for assimilation. It should be emphasized that what Witos published in the press and in parliamentary speeches and written in memories showed strong anti-Semitic tendencies. His views rooted primarily in a conflict of interest between Poles and Jews. Witos criticized anti-Semitic actions and emphasized that violence is not the solution of the Jewish question in Poland. The solution was to carry out the necessary economic reforms.