The new government’s statement of program makes it clear that Premier Miron Christea’s regime will continue the policy of eliminating the Jews from Rumanian economic and professional life, but gives the general impression that this will be accomplished in a gradual manner to avoid unbalancing the country’s economic and social equilibrium.
The statement makes it absolutely definite that the regime will determinedly continue revision of citizenships held by Jews and push emigration of Jews by all possible means. The military regime, however, will end excesses against Jews, which were particularly prevalent in the last days of the Goga Government.
The government’s intention to draw a distinction between the Jewish and other minorities was evidenced by Voicu Nitzescu when taking over the Labor Ministry. Declaring that after experiencing Hungarian oppression he would never be able to transform himself into an oppressor, M. Nitzescu urged minorities to adapt themselves to the structure of the country and continued:
“There is also the problem of minorities which do not belong to this country, those who squeezed themselves in by fraud. This problem interests us to the highest degree and must be solved. We will make, however, a distinction between those who have been living with us for generations and those who came here recently and who have become a burden to us.”
Nitzescu warned he will continue to demand “Rumanization” of foreign-owned enterprises, asserting that although run by foreign international capital the profit was taken from national wealth. “In these enterprises,” he declared, “Rumanian workers must have their share of advantages. For this reason, I appeal to employers to find work for them and give them adequate remuneration.”
The government outlined a 14-point program promising economic, social and constitutional reforms, including organized emigration of “surplus Jewish population.” Point 6 of the program declares: “We shall organize the emigration of foreigners who have come to this country recently. Rumania will attempt to make international agreements with other countries which claim a surplus Jewish population, to provide a new fatherland in which Jews would like to live.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
