Jewish Congress Protests Rumanian Curbs; Denies Policy Change

The American Jewish Congress made public today a memorandum submitted to the Rumanian Minister to the United States and the League of Nations Committee of Three on Rumania, protesting the action of the Rumanian Government in depriving 150,000 Jews of their citizenship and right to work in contravention of the Minority Rights Treaties and the provisions of the Rumanian Constitution. The memorandum, which was prepared by the World Jewish Congress, was forwarded to the Rumanian Minister in Washington by Judge Nathan D. Perlman, acting president of the American Jewish Congress.

The memorandum and letter of Judge Perlman said that if the policies of the Rumanian Government were permitted to proceed, nearly one-half of the Jewish population, numbering 300,000 would be deprived of their rights and be threatened with expulsion. An official announcement in Bucharest declares that a list of those who have been deprived of their citizenship will be published on March 31 and that these persons will be subject to expulsion.

At the same time, Judge Perlman made known that an investigation by the World Jewish Congress of reports which have appeared in New York and London newspapers to the effect that Rumania has revoked its anti-Semitic policy, shows that the reports are without foundation in fact. “The investigation shows,” Judge Perlman said, “that the policy of the revision of citizenship is continuing and that there are no signs of a fundamental change in that policy.”

The Rumanian Government is applying anti-Semitic measures not only against denationalized Jews but against those whose status was upheld during the recent citizenship revision, according to a statement on “The Situation of the Jews in Rumania” prepared by Leo Wolfson, honorary president of the United Rumanian Jews of America, which held its annual convention today at the Hotel Astor.

The statement stresses the necessity of diplomatic intervention to remind the Bucharest Government of its obligation toward the Jewish minority and of a program of economic aid for the impoverished Jews. The study cites, as instances of discrimination against Jews whose citizenship was not cancelled, the withdrawal of licenses from 360 Jewish innkeepers and 760 tobacconists in northern Rumania and from 280 Jewish innkeepers and restaurant owners in Bucharest, the barring of Jews from the new Association of Exporters, and the campaign of anti-Semitic newspapers for withdrawal of licenses of Jewish druggists.

Asserting that Rumania’s policy is based on seeking to impoverish Jews in order to force their emigration, the statement recalls Foreign Minister Gafencu’s announcement of negotiations with foreign powers to facilitate emigration. The Government is willing to issue passports to emigrating Jews without the usual $4 passport charge and with free passage to the border, the memorandum states.