The recent order by the Rumanian Government which was touted as liberalizing the laws regarding the expropriation of Jewish property, actually is aimed at speeding up the confiscation of all such property, it is revealed in a report carried by the Bucharest financial paper, Argus, which reached here today.
Argus publishes a statement made this week by the Under-Secretary for “Rumanization” of Jewish property, in which he defends the exemptions granted to war veterans and a few other limited categories. Answering criticism of the provisions of the order which enable a Rumanian to take over the property belonging to his Jewish wife, the Secretary said: “What is wrong with a Rumanian war hero getting the property of his Jewish wife, thus enabling his children to live?”
The official emphasized that while a law of 1941 exempted Jews who had performed “special services” from the anti-Jewish economic regulations, the new order makes it possible to rescind such exemptions. He also pointed out that the eviction of Jews from buildings “they are no longer entitled to occupy” has been simplified. The only advantage gained by Jews under the new order seems to be that those who were naturalized for courage in the last war, instead of being decorated, are now placed on the same footing as medal holders.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
