300,000 Jews to Lose Rumanian Citizenship, Survey Reveals; Figure Double Cabinet Estimate

Despite a Cabinet statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency recently that only 150,000 Jews would be deprived of their citizenship during the revision process scheduled to and March 31, careful inquiry by Jewish organizations revealed today that the number to be denationalized will be nearer 300,000 to 400,000, or nearly 50 per cent of the total Jewish population in Rumania.

In certain cities, it was disclosed, 60 per cent of the Jewish population has already been removed from the citizenship lists. It was understood that 35 per cent of the Jews in Moldavia and Bessarabia failed to present to the courts documents proving their rights to citizenship simply because they could not afford the necessary fees.

With approach of the revision deadline, the problem of those denationalized becomes most serious since they are not allowed to continue in trades and professions and will be treated as aliens who must be supported by the rest of the Jewish community. The most optimistic estimates of an annual Jewish emigration totalling 10,000, therefore, can only scratch the surface of the problem.

Dr. Wilhelm Filderman, Rumanian Jewish leader, was again received by Minorities Commissioner Silviu Dragomir, with whom he discussed the question of restoration of licenses taken from Jewish liquor dealers. Dr. Dragomir declared the Government would shortly consider the question of Jewish political representation outside the National Renaissance Party.

Former Foreign Minister Istrate Micescu renewed his campaign for expulsion of Jews from the Bucharest Bar Association, of which he is president, inviting it to follow the example of the Baratz Bar Association, which excluded all Jewish members a year ago.