(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The Roumanian Government is capable of preventing and suppressing anti-Semitic outbreaks when the will to do so exists, it was demonstrated in the last few days.
The efforts of the Roumanian anti-Semitic agitators, headed by Alexander Cuza, which threatened a new series of outbreaks, were frustrated because of the firm attitude of the Government and the direct measures taken. Anti-Semitic meetings were prohibited by the authorities. Even secret meetings called by the students in their own homes were dispersed before the inciting addresses were begun. Fifteen students were arrested because of participation in such a meeting. The list of the arrested students was submitted to the unversity senate for disciplinary action.
The military authorities have taken energetic measures to carry out the Government instructions to prevent the breaking loose of racial and religious prejudice which was planned and prepared during several weeks.
The situation, however, remains uncertain until the beginning of April, when a conference of the leaders of all anti-Semitic groups was called to take place in Focsany. The purpose of the conference is ostensibly to prepare for the forthcoming parliamentary elections and to restore untity within the ranks of the anti-Semitic groups.
The situation of Roumanian Jewry today is further complicated by the uncertainty of the political situation. The Regency Council is endeavoring, since the threatening attitude of the peasant pary has found expression in the peasants’ demonstrations, to effect a change of Government by peaceful methods. Nichlas Titulescu, the present Minister of Foreign affairs, was offered the task of forming a new cabinet, but he declined.
Negotiations were then started with the peasant leader Maniu and the former Prime Minister, Gen. Averescu. Octavian Goga, former Minister of the Interior and notorious anti-Semitic leader also started propaganda for Averescu, which is causing anxiety among Roumanian Jews. The possibility of a Government headed by the peasant leader Maniu is also disturbing since his would be a policy in favor of the village versus the tow, which would result in the economic ruin of the Jewish population, although Maniu is not an anti-Semite. Roumanian Jews hope that the Government change will be effected peacefully, fearing that in case of any conflict anti-Semitic riots will occur.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
