The trend of continental opinion was decidedly opposed to this policy of continuous control and periodic intervention.  It would be unfruitful to quote the sharp criticisms of the status of the negroes in the United States.[367] But it will not be amiss to cite the views of two moderate French publicists who have ever been among the most fervent advocates of the Allied cause.  Their comments deal with one of the articles[368] of the special Minority Treaty which Poland has had to sign.  It runs thus:  “Jews shall not be compelled to perform any act which constitutes a violation of their Sabbath, nor shall they be placed under any disability by reason of their refusal to attend courts of law or to perform any legal business on their Sabbath.  This provision, however, shall not exempt Jews from such obligations as shall be imposed upon all other Polish citizens for the necessary purposes of military service, national defense, or the preservation of public order.

“Poland declares her intention to refrain from ordering or permitting elections, whether general or local, to be held on a Saturday, nor will registration for electoral or other purposes be compelled to be performed on a Saturday.”

M. Gauvain writes:  “One may put the question, why respect for the Sabbath is so peremptorily imposed when Sunday is ignored among several of the Allied Powers.  In France Christians are not dispensed from appearing on Sundays before the assize courts.  Besides, Poland is further obliged not to order or authorize elections on a Saturday.  What precautions these are in favor of the Jewish religion as compared with the legislation of many Allied states which have no such ordinances in favor of Catholicism!  Is the same procedure to be adopted toward the Moslems?  Shall we behold the famous Mussulmans of India, so opportunely drawn from the shade by Mr. Montagu, demanding the insertion of clauses to protect Islam?  Will the Zionists impose their dogmas in Palestine?  Is the life of a nation to be suspended two, three, or four days a week in order that religious laws may be observed?  Catholicism has adapted itself in practice to laic legislation and to the exigencies of modern life.  It may well seem that Judaism in Poland could do likewise.  In Rumania, the Jews met with no obstacle to the exercise of their religion.  Indeed, they had contrived in the localities to the north of Moldavia, where they formed a majority, to impose their own customs on the rest of the population.  Jewish guardians of toll-bridges are known to have barred the passage of these bridges on Saturdays, because, on the one hand, their religion forbade them to accept money on that day, and, on the other hand, they could allow no one to pass without paying.  The Big Four might have given their attention to matters more useful or more pressing than enforcing respect for the Sabbath.