While it has not yet been definitely determined just what was the motive that prompted the 22-year old Macedonian student, George Beza, to attempt the assassination of Dr. Constantin Angelescu, acting minister of the interior, the shooting of Dr. Angelescu has started the Roumanian police on an investigation into the existence of an anti-Semitic terroristic organization which is reported to be planning to kill Roumanian officials who are too zealous in putting down anti-Semitic disturbances.
The night before the shooting of Dr. Angelescu, whose condition is reported improved, inciting posters made their appearance on buildings and walls in various parts of Bucharest. The posters threatened death to many prominent officials as well as to leading that the government take measures to protect the Jews.
Although no actual details have been made public as to the confession of the would be murderer it is reliably reported that after his arrest Beza declared that “the government protects Jews and traitors to nationalism” and added that Dr. Angelescu had refused a request for the release of arrested anti-Semitic students pending their trial. He is also reported to have said during his cross-examination by the police that he had come to ask Dr. Angelescu for a subvention for a campaign for Roumanian culture in Bessarabia. It is now revealed that Beza has been active in the past in organizing anti-Semitic disturbances.
The Roumanian press is a unit in condemning the attack on Dr. Angelescu, particularly since the authorities have finally stopped the disturbances and since the attempted assassination occurred after the government’s official communique had been issued stating that peace prevails everywhere, including Bukowina.
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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.