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Tatarescu Airs Regime’s Policy on Minorities; to Promote Majority Welfare

October 12, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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PREMIER GEORG TATARESCU, IN A STATEMENT OF POLICY ON MINORITIES, DECLARED THE POLICY OF PROMOTING THE “RUMANIAN ELEMENT” WOULD BE PURSUED BY EVERY FUTURE GOVERNMENT, BUT ADDED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE DIRECTED AGAINST MINORITIES.

THE PREMIER’S DECLARATION, MADE SATURDAY IN AN ADDRESS IN THE TOWN OF ORADEA, CAME ON THE HEELS OF A STATEMENT BY KING CAROL, WHO TOLD THE RUMANIAN BOY SCOUT CONGRESS: “WE MUST CULTIVATE SPIRITUAL PEACE; EVERY INHABITANT OF THE LAND HAS A MISSION TO FULFILL FOR THE COLLECTIVE INTEREST.”

THE PREMIER’S FRANK ASSERTION THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD BE FAVORED WAS INTERPRETED IN POLITICAL CIRCLES AS INDICATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF PROMOTING THE “RUMANIAN ELEMENT,” BUT THAT FOR THE TIME BEING MEASURES IN THIS DIRECTION WOULD NOT BEAR HARSHLY ON MINORITIES. ON THE OTHER HAND IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT A NATIONAL ELECTION IS COMING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

MR. TATARESCU STRESSED THE GOVERNMENT’S DESIRE TO ESTABLISH CONDITIONS OF RECIPROCAL CONFIDENCE WITH MINORITY NATIONALITIES, GIVING ASSURANCES THAT CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE GROUPS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF LAW WOULD BE PROVIDED.

“MISUNDERSTANDING AND DIFFICULTIES WHICH NATURALLY ARISE IN INTERCOURSE BETWEEN A MAJORITY AND MINORITIES CAN ALWAYS BE SETTLED,” HE SAID, “IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONCILIATION.”

AT THE SAME TIME, THE PREMIER DECLARED THAT MINORITIES MUST NOT OPPOSE ACTIONS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE RUMANIAN ELEMENT. THE MINORITIES MUST LOYALLY FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO RUMANIA, HE DECLARED, AND “HAVE A DUTY NOT TO REGARD WITH UNFAVORABLE EYES ACTION FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE RUMANIAN ELEMENT, WHICH MUST BE HELPED TO REACH THE LEVEL OF MATERIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO WHICH THE MAJORITY IS ENTITLED IN EVERY STATE.”

ANNOUNCING THAT THE MAJORITY’S WELFARE WOULD BE AIDED BY EVERY FUTURE GOVERNMENT, MR. TATARESCU WARNED THAT “MINORITIES MUST, IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS, COLLABORATE SINCERELY IN THIS WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION. HE CONCLUDED WITH THE STATEMENT: “PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING OUTSIDE AND PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE COUNTRY: THIS IS THE PERMANENT COMMANDMENT WHICH GUIDES THE LIFE OF THE ROMANIAN STATE.”

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