Dr. Stephen S. Wise Comments on Roumanian Minister’s Statement

The correspondence between Roumanian Minister George Cretziano and Congressman William I. Sirovich evoked comments yesterday by Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress, and Leo Wolfson, president of the United Roumanian Jews of America.

“I note with some measure of satisfaction,” Dr. Wise stated, “the assurance given by M. Cretziano and other representatives of the Roumanian Government that the perpetrators of the attacks upon the Jews are being called to account and that the necessary steps are being taken to prevent the repetition of these acts of lawlessness and brutality directed against peaceful and loyal inhabitants of the land. I welcome the change in tone in the communication of the Roumanian Minister from his utterances made on a similar sad occasion about a year ago, and in a certain public statement issued as recently as December 7th, when he commented quite differently on the findings of an eminent Christian Deputation which last summer surveyed conditions affecting the life of the minorities in Roumania.

“My associates in the American Jewish Congress and myself, who have been endeavoring to focus public attention on the wrongs inflicted upon these minorities, in violation of treaty guarantees and repeated public pledges, most earnestly hope that the promises now made will not share the fate of assurances given on previous occasions, when hopes held out were most cruelly shattered and we were left weary and heartsick and almost bereft of faith in human fellowship.

“But the injustices to which my brethren and the members of other minorities in Roumania have been subjected, have their root in a governmental policy giving open or secret encouragement to acts of oppression and mob violence, and until we have unmistakable evidence of a complete change of attitude on the part of the Government, our keen anxiety about the situation in Roumania will not be set at rest, nor will we be able to restrain the feelings of deep indignation which is being made manifest by Jews and non-Jews and all lovers of fair play in this and other lands, who continue to be gravely concerned about the intolerable lot of hundreds of thousands of human beings living in a constant state of fear and uncertainty as to what the morrow may bring.

“We welcome friendly words but in the face of calamitous conditions, crying to heaven for redress, we must ask for acts and deeds,-we must demand a completely different attitude on the part of the Roumanian Government, a new policy which will bring real relief to all the persecuted minorities and which in the end can have no other result than that of increasing the welfare and prestige of the whole of Roumania,” Dr. Wise concluded.

Mr. Wolfson, in a statement issued, declared:

“I refuse to accept the defence that the government was taken unawares and had no time to prepare. I make the charge that the government knew that the students were playing their old tricks on the way to Oradea Mare, and that it should have taken the necessary measures to prevent the catastrophy. It did not do its duty and should be held responsible.

“Speaking of facts why did the minister not give the figures of the Jewish students at the University of Bucarest? The figures that he gives about Jewish students are of those enrolled or matriculated. How many of them have actually attended the classes and courses?

“What I resent in the letter is the attempt to place the entire unfortunate matter upon a basis which is far from the real truth.

“I admit that the government has taken some measures to punish the offenders; but while some students have been sentenced most of those who have been arrested have been freed as heretofore. Some indemnities for the devastated synagogues have been made and promised, but the damages of the great masses of Jews who have suffered in the recent excesses and riots, have been given little if any consideration.

“However, the very direct promise which the Minister makes on behalf of the government about the future, should be received by the American people with a feeling of “watchful waiting.” Let us hope that they will be kept, and that this is the last time the Roumanian government is on trial before the opinion of the civilized world. The Minister may rest assured that American Jewry will be glad to help bring about the desired understanding between Jew and Gentile in Roumania. We are not satisfied with promises, we want action and just action, nothing less will satisfy us.”