Government More Responsible for Anti-jewish Excesses Than Students, Leader Says in Court

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Startling facts with regard to the attitude of the Roumanian Government in the anti-Jewish excesses in Transylvania during December were disclosed in testimony presented before the military court at Cluj.

A detailed report of the proceedings of the military court which is now trying the last group of students who participated in the riots. telegraphed here by an Hungarian news agency, quotes the Roumanian student leader, Popescu, in his statement before the military court, that “the Government had greater guilt in the Transylvanian pogroms than did the students.”

This statement caused great surprise in the court, the Government attorney urging the judge to prohibit the publication of the statement in the press. The court however declined, but consented to continue Popescu’s interrogation in camera.

Crontru, another student leader, was also heard behind closed doors.

Popescu in his testimony before the closed session declared that the Government had had ample time to prevent the devastations. “I myself telegraphed to Tatarescu. The Chief of Police of Oradeamare also telephoned hourly to the Ministry of the Interior, declining responsibility and requesting instructions.” The Government, however apparently had no desire to give the instructions as requested. “As additional proof I can say that Tatarescu told me later that everything would have been all right if the Oradeamare riots would have remained limited in scope.” Later, however, when the thing was repeated in Huyad. Osucsa and Cluj the Government was compelled to apply reprisals. Now the Government, in the strangest manner, brings to the court the most efficient students, Popescu declared.