Parliament Learns Professors Stood by As Students Beat Jews at University of Jassy

Charging that professors stood by while Gentile students beat their Jewish fellow-students, barring the doors so they could not escape, Deputy Theodor Fischer yesterday in Parliament questioned the Minister of Interior regarding the disturbances which occurred at Jassy University on December 16. Stating that the Christian students had seriously injured a large number of the Jewish students and submitting photographs of some of the injured to substantiate his complaint, Fischer stated that complaints were made to the police and although the names of the attackers were known to them, they did not act to indict anyone. The professor, after whose lecture the riots occurred, Fischer stated, remained passive, while a laboratory assistant aided the Christian students in their attacks, Fischer charged.

For the sake of Roumania’s good name and to restore normal work at the University. Fischer suggested that all state officials who preach enmity between sections of the population should be subjected to disciplinary action, and be made to answer before court for the incitement against peace.

Gregore Juniau, Minister of Justice, replied that the government condemns such incidents as occurred at the Uni- (Continued on Page 4)

versity, if Fischer’s report were accurate, and feels that the students should exclude politics and attend to their work at the University. However, he said, anti-Semitic activity, in so far as it is confined to a conflict of ideas, enjoys liberty of assembly and of the press similar to other movements. This does not mean, he stated, that anti-Semitism is allowed in the universities, nor that the government permits violence to occur in or out of the universities. He is convinced, he stated, that measures have already been taken against the aggressors. If the accusations against the faculty members were true, the University will undoubtedly take steps.

Fischer then demanded a reply from the Minister of Education, saying it seemed that the government justified anti-Semitism to a certain extent. This provoked considerable tumult, Madgearu angrily saying that Fischer misrepresented his words and that the government cannot prevent citizens from holding any views no matter how deplorable. The government, he said, condemns violence and if the Jassy incidents were as described they would be condemned with all possible energy. It was necessary to wait, however, for the report of the inquiry which the Minister of Education is conducting before the Government could act.

The following statement was received by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency from the Roumanian Legation.

“From information so far gathered in connection with incidents which occurred at the University of Iasi (Jassy) in the class of Prof. Smuleanu, it seems that there were injured, among the Jewish as well as among the Christian students.

“The intervention of the authorities and the arrest of the heads (leaders) of the movement have brought the incidents to a stop. The University has been closed and a drastic investigation begun by the prosecuting attorney and the University authorities. In reply to a question put in the House by Congressman Fischer. Ministers Madgearu and Costachescu answered that the government is doing its utmost to suppress the movement and is taking strong measures for ascertaining who is responsible for it and to punish the guilty.”