The deportation of B. Smolar, the special correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in Roumania, was prevented today following a long conversation which Mr. Smolar had with Ion Lugojanu, acting premier. Mr. Smolar, who was formerly the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in Moscow, is an American citizen.
CABLES DISPLEASE CABINET
Mr. Smolar was officially informed by the government that his cables regarding the anti-Jewish disturbances in Roumania were arousing tremendous dissatisfaction in cabinet circles. After holding up some of his cables at the telegraph office for twenty-four hours and vitiating their news value and returning on the following day cables that were sent the previous day, Mr. Smolar was informed of the order, issued by M. Lugojanu, that he must leave the country.
Mr. Smolar then asked for an immediate appointment with M. Lugojanu. He informed the acting-premier that he had enough material to leave Roumania and tell the truth about the Jewish situation in Roumania while temporarily residing in one of the neighboring countries. The correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency also protested against the blind censorship system according to which no correspondent was ever able to know whether his cables left Roumania or not since no open censorship is practiced.
MUST DEFEND CREDITS
As a result of this protest M. Lugojanu promised Mr. Smolar to look into the matter, but pointed out that the government must take measures, such as holding up cables, because it must defend its credits abroad.
Since Mr. Smolar’s arrival in Roumania a fortnight ago he has been obtaining interviews with prominent government officials on the real Jewish situation. His most important interview was with the minister of the interior, Dr. Alexander Vayda Voevod, in which the latter informed the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the Jews abroad should aid in obtaining credits for Roumania because this indirectly aids in the safety of the Jews since anti-Semitism increases during periods of economic depression.
PRESS CRITICAL OF VAYDA INTERVIEW
Yesterday’s and today’s Roumanian papers were sharply critical of Dr. Vayda Voevod’s statements to Mr Smolar, many of the papers interpreting his remarks as an indication that if Jewish financial aid were forthcoming the disturbances could be suppressed.
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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.
