Fischer Denies Being Printer to Roumanian Legation, Answers Menorah Attack

Sir:

Please correct an erroneous impression that has gained vogue through the misrepresentation in Mr. Solow’s article in the Menorah Journal, concerning the role I played upon my recent visit to Roumania. I wish to categorically deny that there has ever been any commercial relations between the Roumanian Embassy and my firm. I have never done any work of any character such as is alluded to by Mr. Solow. It is not a plece of responsible journalism to broadcast a charge against a man’s character without making due inquiries about the truth of such allegation. A phone call would have sufliced had Mr. Solow been interested in accuracy rather than sensationalism.

I feel that my visit to Roumania brought me the opportunity of observing the conditions under which our co-religionists labor. Insofar as I am able as an officer or the United Roumania Jews of America, I tried to contribute to the improvement of relations between Jews and the rest of their countrymen in Roumania.

In this work I am interested in giving the Roumanian Officials the point of view of the American Jews of Roumanian origin, concerning their desire for the improvment of the lot of their co-religionists, in respect to their enjoyment of legal, polltical, civil and religious rights guaranteed to them by the minority treaties.

I will be grateful if you will give this letter publication in your service.

Leon Fischer

New York, Aug. 8, 1928

Mr. Fischer’s denial concerns an article by H. Solow in the July issue of the Menorah Journal on the recent developments in Roumanian-Jewish relations. Under the caption.

"Six Months of Jewish Diplomacy," the American Jewish Committee, The American Jewish Congress and the United Roumanian Jews of America are severely taken to task for the course they followed. Mr. Fischer has particular reference to the following paragraph:

"How this reversal of form (the action of the United Roumanian Jews in endorsing the Roumanian loan) came about is not yet clearly known. Only a few things are known: Firstly, the new president of the organization is self-confessedly ignorant of affairs in Roumania, where he has not been since he was eight years old. It may be incidental that this president, during the weeks preceding the capitulation of the United Roumanian Jews, conferred with Mr Marshall. It may also be only incidental that a vice-president of the organization, Leon Fischer is printer to the Roumanian Legation at Washington, Certainly this vice-president did not fight against the rapproachement between his organization and his customer. It may only be incidental that this vice-president shortly after went to Bucharest where he kissed the Qucen’s hand and said it was all right with him."