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Hungarian Patriotism of Transylvanian Jews Rouses Roumanian Wrath

April 2, 1928
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(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Jewish population in the province of Transylvania, which formerly belonged to Hungary and is now a part of Roumania, is between the devil and the deep sea as the two states, in sharp conflict over the territory, claim the patriotism of the Jewish population.

The question as to what the Jews of Transylvania are–Magyars or Roumanians–was the subject of a stormy debate in the Roumanian parliament on Thursday. Dr. William Filderman, leader of Roumanian Jews, Understate Secretary Angelescu and the Hungarian Jewish deputy, Dr. Willer, participated in the debate.

Dr. Willer, who is a representative from Transylvania, claimed that the Jews of that province are full blooded Hungarians and for that reason they are opposed to Roumanian schools. Understate Secretary Angelescu exclaimed, “No government will suffer the Magyarization of the Transylvanian cities by the Jews.”

The encounter called forth many comments on the part of the majority deputies who intimated that the Hungarian Jews of Transylvania were principally to blame for the Roumanian anti-Semitic outbreaks last December. Dr. Filderman put an end to the discussion when he declared that the Jews of Transylvania are Jews only ethnically and they will have to acquire Roumanian nationality.

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