J.D.B. News Letter

(By our Brussels Correspondent)

The situation in which the Jewish minority in Roumania finds itself is the subject of a memorandum submitted by the Palestinian, Austrian, Czecho-Slovakian and Bulgarian Jewish League of Nations Societies to the Minority Commission of the International Union of League of Nations Societies which is in session here.

Since the last meeting of the Union which was held in Berlin in May, 1927, the memorandum states, events have occurred in Transylvania surpassing in gravity those which took place in Bessarabia in the course of last year. The Commission of Minorities of the Union of Assaciations cannot allow these events to pass without giving them the attention they deserve.

These excesses which are repeated year after year, it proceeds, are the direct result of an anti-Semitic propaganda which has been carried on in Roumania for six years and is daily growing in strength.

Until the summer of 1922, the various nationalities and religious communities in the country lived peacefully together and their relations were of a very friendly nature. It was only at this time that the agitation was started against the Jews. Hundreds of thousands of pamphlets and proclamations stirring up and inciting the population against the Jews have been distributed, and the Roumanian students in particular were urged to attack the Jews.

The beginning of this movement coincided with the restrictive measures taken by the Government, with regard to the schools and universities, and espectially with the period when the Jewish schools and the schools of other minorities were Roumanized, notwithstanding the promises to the contrary given by the Government in the Royal Decree of 1918.

After enumerating a number of instances of the anti-Jewish campaign and excesses ranging in period from November 1922 to 1926, the memorandum speaks of the lenience with which the anti-Jewish rioters are treated, and of the fact that the Roumanian anti-Semitic press is permitted to go on inciting the Roumanian population to maltreat and even massacre the Jews, and remarks that the explanation may be one of two reasons, the fact that at the head of the Government were men who never made a secret of their hostility to the Jews, such as the former Minister of the Interior, M. Goga, who was elected one of the honorary members of the Students’ Congress at Oradeomare, or, on the other hand, it may be that the Roumanian Government may be anxious not to fall out with such an important power as is the University youth.

The present Roumanian Government, although it has repeatedly declared its intention to respect and to realize the rights of the minorities, has also proved itself weak in regard to the students. The Minister of the Interior, M. Duca, was warned by the Jewish members of the Roumanian Parliament that the Students’ Congress at Oradeomare had been convened for the purpose of letting loose the passions accumulated against the Jewish and Magyar minorities. The Congress, authorized by the Government, was under the personal responsibility of M. Tatarescu, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior. During the fortnight preceding the Congress M. Tatarescu visited the towns subsequently devastated by the students and gave assurances that public order would be maintained. The Congress was held only as a result of the official support it was given, such as free railway tickets to the students, requisition of rooms for the accommodation of the students, etc.

At the opening of the Congress the Prefect of Oradeomare, whose duty it was to safeguard the maintenance of public order, sanctioned the disturbances in advance when he outlined the anti-Jewish and anti-Magyar character of the Congress. The students had every reason to expect that they would be let off scotfree as had happened in the past. While the excesses were in progress the police made no attempt to protect the life and property of the Jewish population.

In spite of all the assurances given by the Roumanian Government, the memorandum declares, neither the Roumanian Jews nor public opinion have yet been calmed.

Although the Roumanian Jews are only too anxious to collaborate in the development and progress of the political and economic life of their country, neither their lives nor their property are sufficiently protected. They are, of course, fully aware of the fact that many elements in the country are opposed to pogroms. In this connection it is only just to call attention to the courageous attitude of M. Ciorogaru, the Roumanian Bishop of Transylvania, who at the opening of the Congress implored the students not to disturb public peace and order and not to dishonor the good name of Roumania. The Roumanian Jews also know that the major portion of the Roumanion nation is opposed to the anti-Jewish excesses. In particular is this the case with the Roumanian peasants who live in excellent relations with the Jews. The Roumanian Jews are also aware of the fact that even in the Roumanian Cabinet there is no lack of members who are strongly opposed to pogroms. But the Jews of Roumania do not feel sure that the students, stirred up and incited as they are by a persistent agitation which has been going on for six years, may not at the first opportunity renew the excesses.