News Brief

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

In the protest against the persecution of the Jews in Roumania made by Senator Luigi Luzzatti, Italian Jewish statesman, he declared:

“I have published many articles in defense of the Roumanian Jews and also a number of diplomatic documents which did do something towards the alleviation of the intolerable position of the Roumanian Jews, which was in such flagrant contradiction of the international agreements of 1878. I was happy when I was assured solemnly by leading Roumanian statesmen, and also by a Roumanian deputation which included among other influential Roumanian citizens the former Chief of the Roumanian Army Staff, that anti-Semitism was dead in Roumania. But now a young Jewish student, David Falik, has been assassinated in Czernowitz by the Roumanian student Teutu, a disciple of that Professor Cuza whom the anti-Semites regard as their Savior. If I were to follow the example of many Roumanians and regard Professor Cuzamerely as a lunatic I should he showing him too much tolerance. This anti-Semitic movement which is instigating unheard-of persecutions against the Jews of Roumania has its roots in the universities, but, unfortunately, it is spreading also throughout the country and as soon as Roumanian statesmen assure us that it has gone it breaks out anew as in the case of the recent excesses in Roumania, in which Jewish students, especially girl students have been brutally attacked by their colleagues.

“The students’ conterence at Jassy has been followed by a series of anti-Jewish disturbances. Jewish passengers have been attacked and maltreated on the railways. The students on their return journey from Jassy got out at the stations on route and desecrated synagogues, plundered Jewish shops, robbed Jewish houses, and assaulted Jewish men and women. When the Government’s attention was called in the Chamber to these events, it promised to intervene. But has it intervened? The half-hearted attitude of the Government makes one doubt of its goodwill.

“We who have always stood up in defense of the territorial and political greatness of Roumania cannot help thinking that Roumania is carrying on in Europe the example of religious persecution which has been set by Mexico.

“In view of these latest occurrences, we want to put this question–what is the League of Nations doing, this great body which has made it its task to defend the oppressed nations such as the Armenians and Bulgarians? Why is the League of Nations not taking up this matter in the name of religious liberty, which is the essential condition for the maintenance of political and economic peace?” Luzzatti declared.