Protest of Roumanian Jewish Leaders Obtained Under Government Duress

Denials issued in Romania by Jewish leaders concerning the reports of anti-Jewish excesses were obtained under pressure by the Roumanian government, declared Leo Wolfson, president of the United Roumanian Jews of America, in commenting on the despatches reporting the protest of Rabbi J. I. Nicmirower on the floor of the Roumanian Senate.

“The storm of protest and world condemnation of the outrages committed against the Jews in Roumania have stirred the Roumanian Government to unusual activity,” Mr. Wolfson stated to the representative of the “Jewish Daily Bulletin.” It has broadcasted its own denials and hid itself under the red flag propaganda. It has enlisted the great publicity powers of the Roumanian Queen and made her issue a denial. In addition thereto, it and its official press are using their utmost pressure upon the leading Jews in Romania, to issue denials or at least statements minimizing the gravity of the events. The first one to yield was Dr. Meyer Ebner, of Cernauti, a deputy of Bucovina. In his paper, the ‘Ost Juedische Zeitung.’ Dr. Ebner frankly admitted that at the request of the government and its officials press, he makes the statement that there were no pogroms in Roumania, in the sense of the Russian meaning of the word, but goes on relating incidents and events, and the failure of the government to protect the Jews. The statement in itself is the most damning evidence against the government. Now Dr. Niemirower, Chief Rabbi of Roumania, and a Senator, is alleged to have made a statement and protest, asking that the Jews of Roumania be allowed to act for themselves without interference by the outside Jews.

“We will withhold for the present any comment on the alleged statement of Dr. Niemirower, until we will get a complete report of what he actually said. We will have that very shortly.

“As far as the United Roumanian Jews of America is concerned, knowing as we do, that such statements are obtained by force and intimidation, and none the gentie methods for which the Roumanian government is famous, we will simply pay no attention to them and entirely disregard them. We will continue our activity until we will gain for the Jews in Roumania a status of equality with that of all other citizens of the country and secure for them the free and unhampered enjoyment of their rights.

“The Roumanian government would ## better to reestablish and maintain ## protext Jewish life and property, and not seek to whitewash itself by statements known to be obtained under duress.” Mr. Wolfson declared.

A new record price for a painting sold at auc## in the United States was established Thursday night when a portrait by Rambraudt of his son Titus was sold at the American Art Gallerres for $200,000. Sir Joseph Duveen, who once before owned. Rembrandt’s picture of his son. calted “Titus in an Armchan.” purchased it again.

Announcement of a gift of sixteen copies of the works of the rate Isidore Kautmann, to the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association of Philadelphia by Albert M. Greenheld, a director of the Association and Chairman of the Building Committee, was made by Henry W. Braude, President of the organization.

Mr. Greenfield’s gift was made in honor of Samuel S. Flesher, winner of the Philadelphia Award and founder of the Graphic Sketed Club. The copies which Mr. Greenfield has presented in## the portraits of “The Seeptic.” “The Faratec.” and “The Cabhalist,” the first being our of Kautmann’s best known works. Among the larger ## are “In the Reth Hamedrash,” and “On Sabatin Day.”