[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]
The political and historical background of the agreement just concluded between the Jews of Bukowina and the Roumanian government, whereby the Jews of that province are accorded representation in the Parliament, is outlined by the “Jewish Morning Journal” of May 13. The editorial also points out that this agreement should serve as an object lesson for Poland, where the Polish-Jewish pact has not been fulfilled.
“Bukowina,” we read, “is a small province having less than a million population which contains about 100,000 Jews. But the Jews of Bukowina, whose position was very satisfactory under the old Austrian regime, are politically well developed and have had experience which the Jews of the neighboring countries and provinces lack. They were independent and enjoyed more privileges under the Hapsburgs than the Jews of any other part of the empire; Jewish nationalism was well intrenched there. This was due to the fact that they formed a sort of balance between the Ruthenians, Roumanians and Germans, none of whom constituted a majority. Bukowina was a province composed entirely of minorities and the rights of the Jewish minority were therefore recognized.
“Now, when the Roumanian minority has become the ruling power there is a strong tendency for a united opposition against it. But the Jews in Bukowina have realized that it would profit neither them nor the rest of the Jewish population of the country, totalling 1,000,000, to antagonize the government, hence, they have adopted the sanest policy possible under the circumstances. General Averescu, the present premier of Roumania, is slightly better than his predecessor in office and there is little hope that a still better one will follow him. Therefore it was in the best interests of the Jews to come to an arrangement with him and the agreement is practical in every respect.”
Ralph Jonas was one of the three trustees appointed by Mayor Walker for the prospective Brooklyn University. The other two are Arthur Millidge Howe and Mrs. Alice Campbell Good. Under a law adopted by the recent Legislature the appointees automatically became members of the Board of Higher Education.
Mr. Jonas is a member of the Brooklyn bar. He has taken an active interest in the founding of the Brooklyn University and was one of the organizers of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He is a trustee of Adelphi College, a member of the Advisory Council of Polytechnic Institute and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities.
A letter received from Walter Kraslow. Brooklyn builder, offered to erect the Brooklyn University without profit. The saving is to be Mr. Kraslow’s personal contribution to the university.
Mr. Kraslow’s offer is being considered by the Committee of 100 of which Borough President Joseph A. Guider is Honorary Chairman.
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