More About the Numerus Clausus Proposal for Roumanian Jewish Students at Paris University: Bill in F

The bill which has been introduced into the French Senate, referred to by Professor Balthazard, the Dean of the Medical Faculty of Paris University, in his interview with the J.T.A. (given in the J.T.A. Bulletin of the 21st. inst.) regarding the Bucharest report of an alleged intention to introduce a numerus clausus at Paris University against Jewish students from Roumania, seeks to provide, the J.T.A. learns, that students coming from abroad in order to obtain a French diploma with the intention of practising medicine in France, must in future comply with the same conditions required of French citizens, that is to say, they will have to matriculate in France, will have to become naturalised as French citizens and will have to serve in the French army.

The Medical Faculty of Paris University is backing the bill, which is to protect French doctors against the competition of aliens, who are relieved from obligations to which French citizens are subject. The bill is not aimed against any nationality or religion, applying equally to all alien students. Roumanian students will be less affected, however, than students of other nationalities. The Medical Faculty desires to make an exception in favour of a certain number of Roumanian students, irrespective of their religion, so as to preserve an old tradition under which Roumanians enjoy certain privileges in France. The Medical Faculty proposes that a certain number of Roumanian students should be released from having to take the French matriculation examinations.

We should like to have an explanation, the Jewish daily here, the “Pariser Hajnt”, says in commenting on this J.T.A. report, what exactly it means that a certain number of Roumanian students are to enjoy certain privileges. Who will select these privileged students, and what will be the manner of their selection? How can the Jewish students of Roumania be assured that Jews will be treated justly? The disquiet in Jewish quarters continues, the paper declares.

For 75 years there has been a convention between Roumania and France, Professor Minovici, the Dean of the Medical Faculty of Rucharest University, has stated, guaranteeing full liberty to students of Roumanian citizenship irrespective of their faith to study in France. In my opinion, the Dean went on, it is impossible to introduce any numerus clausus in Roumania or else where with Roumanian aid, or to make any distinction between students because of their religion.