Octavian Goga, in Book, Glorifies Roumanian Students’ Movement

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The nationalist Roumanian students’ movement, which finds its expression mainly in instigating anti-Jewish excesses, was glorified in a book by the Roumanian Minister of the Interior, Octavian Goga.

The book, which is just off the press, is entitled “Wine Fermenting” and consists of a collection of articles by Goga, who is considered one of the best Roumanian national writers. In these essays Goga ascribes the student movement to a natural process of fermentation of the Roumanian national state, which is now forming.

The book has a preface by Prime Minister Gen. Averescu. In the preface, the Prime Minister quotes his letter to the Jewish soldier who had written as follows: “I have been a soldier for two years. My brothers, my father, my forbears were all Roumanian soldiers. Would you like to be a Jew in Roumania and see to what injustice the Jews are subjected and nothing done to stop it?”

General Averescu reproduces his reply to the Jewish soldier in which he said: “It would certainly be a misfortune for me to live in another country than that in which my forefathers lived. But in any case I would not write a letter such as this, in which I would put myself in an unfavorable light. I would identify myself loyally with the country which was giving me hospitality.”