J.D.B. News Letter

The political situation in Roumania as it might affect the Jewish population, and the events in the country last year are the subject of a review published in the “Paix et Droit,” the organ of the Alliance Israelite Universelle.

“In 1928 we witnessed the beginnings of a salutary transformation that we would wish to be of long duration for the good of our co-religionists, the review states. The chief event of the year was the retirement of the Liberal Cabinet and the coming into power of the National-Peasant party. This change interrupted the putting into practice of the reforms promised by Mr. Bratiano. Two of them, nevertheless, were obtained and have already entered into effect: the organization of the Mosaic cult and the taking over by the State of the greater number of the Jewish schools.

“It is not yet possible to define the program and the intentions of the present government concerning minorities as a whole. Opinion is very much divided. Patient expectation is necessary. Premier Maniu has liberal views, is firm of character and tenacious in action, but lacks political experience. From the outset he will need diplomacy and sagacity to curb impatient aspirations.

“In the meanwhile, the new parliament, the result of the December elections held for the first time by the National-Peasants, set itself resolutely to work. Right from the beginning attention was concentrated on the attack that was supposed to have been launched against the new cabinet of Maniu. For the Jews the struggle had a special interest, not so much by virtue of domestic politics as from the point of view of the solution to be given to the problem of minorities, the Jewish minority included.

“On this matter it was a question of seeing what line the opposition of the Liberals would follow under the leadership of Mr. Bratiano and if an understanding between the National-Liberals, the Populists and the Jorguists would permit a stable existence to a government set in the direction of a completely new system of politics.

“It might have been supposed that a cabinet formed under the extraordinary conditions with which we are familiar and with a strong innovation-program would not remain very long at the head of affairs if the Bratianist party, which is still deeply entrenched in the country, would engage in a struggle at the outset. However, not only did the opposition believe it to be no duty of their to give the signal for the attack, but they proceeded to proclaim out-and-out that the Minister of the National-Peasants might count upon its cooperation and its-support. Under these circumstances, Mr. Maniu’s continuance in power seems assured for many months and it only remains to learn his real (Continued on Page 4) (Continued from Page 3)

The “Paix et Droit,” continuing its review of the year 1928, writes:

“All things considered, compared with the one which preceded it, the year 1928 was fairly calm. All during these twelve months the anti-Semites, twice defeated at the parliamentary elections, reflected in silence and the students showed themselves sagacious, while the political events in the country might have led one to fear that their counter-blows would rebound as usual upon the Jewish population. The death of Jan Bratiano and the accession to power of his brother Vintila, was even calming. In fact, contrary to all expectations, very strong measures were taken by the new Liberal cabinet in time for the factions hostile to the Jews to be reduced to inactivity and for the students to be forced to refrain from all disturbance in the universities.

“It must be stated that after the barbarous Transylvanian excesses of December, 1927, and the lamentable impression that they produced, not only abroad but also in the interior of the country, a reaction must necessarily have set in. The moral and material harm caused by these excesses is still incalculable. Stagnation of commercial transactions and considerable aggravation of the economic crisis, postponement of loans, delay in monetary stabilization, disruption of the budget equilibrium-such were, among others, the immediate consequences of the devastations and the profanations perpetrated. All these regrettable horrors opened the eyes of those who had refused to see, and to recall to the majority of the Roumanians the cruel reality of the situation. More than one is taking into consideration the immense wrong done to the country a year ago by the anti-Semitic agitators. It is to be hoped that the lesson will not have been in vain, in order that the Jews may at least have the consolation of saying with the proverb: ‘It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good’.”