After Ukraine had shaken off the centennial chains of foreign sovereignty and was proclaimed as a free State, it was thought in leading Ukrainian circles that autonomic, national rights should be given to the nationalities that have, since ancient times, been domiciled in Ukraine. Thereby peace would be secured among the different nationalities in the new State, and the co-operation of all the different tribes of people would be gained for the building up of the Ukrainian republic.
The scope of this decision can be appreciated when we remember what the Ukrainian people have suffered in the course of time from national suppression. But it was also wise, farseeing and beneficial to the State to win over the minorities to the cause of the new State, for those minorities — Russians, Jews and Poles — have always been, and are still, in numbers, reputation, cultural development and economical consideration, important factors in the country.
Guarantees of the Ukrainian Parliament
In order to safeguard the national interests of the aforesaid nationalities, special State-Secretary offices were established. In the first so-called ' ' Universal, ' ' or proclamation to the people, "Central Rada" (the Ukrainian Parliament) promised to protect the national rights of the minority nationalities. In the third "Universal" the "Rada" went still further and granted national personal autonomy to the Russian, Jewish, Polish and other minority nationalities, and held out prospects of a special law in this respect being made. Thus the Jewish question, which has been worrying most European countries, was solved in a clear and natural way.
Proved by Experience of Latter Years
The experiences of latter years have proved to us that it does not pay to have a civil emancipation of the Jewish inhabitants. We realize more and more that the civil emancipation can not be the final solution of the Jewish question, and that the recognition of all people as equally entitled members of a State is the consequence of the recognition of all nations as equally entitled factors in the progress of humanity. Thus this demand which the Jewish civil and socialistic parties present with more and more force is for the first time recognized as authorized and is fulfilled in Ukraine.
The law proposed by the government has been elaborated by the Secretary of State for Jewish Affairs, and on January 9, 1918, it was unanimously passed by the Central Rada. In this law it was solemnly declared that all people in Ukraine have a right to national-personal autonomy, i. e., a right of independent determination of their national life, especially by means of national leagues composed of members of the respective nationality. The right to national-personal autonomy is an inviolable right. This right can not be denied any people in the Ukrainian republic, and neither can* it be restricted for those who enjoy it. The national league has a right to impose taxes on its members and to take all steps that it finds necessary to protect all cultural and other demands.
Jewish Life Able to Develop Freely
Owing to the political conditions the law has not yet taken effect, but during the two years the independent Ukrainian State has existed public Jewish life has been able to develop freely. The Jews in Ukraine have the most extended national rights. The Jewish language is officially recognized, a Jewish ministry has been able to develop its activity. Jewish congregations have been able to thrive in freedom, and new Jewish schools have grown up. In the newly founded university at Kamenetz Podolsk, the government has established a professor's chair for Jewish history and literature, and hereby the national rights of the Jewish people have been still more emphasized.
Jewish Aspirations Peaceably Attained