The much-discussed bill for “protection of national labor,” designed to restrict members of national minorities in employment, has apparently been dropped by the Tatarescu Government.
According to informed sources here, the bill has been dropped because the Liberal Government, whose term of office expires with the Summer’s end, fears the possible less of 5,000,000 votes controlled by the minorities groups. Elections will be held in the Fall.
Apart from the electoral considerations, it was stated here, the bill was opposed by Constantine Bratianu, chairman of the Liberal party, not as a friend of the Jews, but because he represents the viewpoint of large industrial and financial enterprises which realize the importance of the minorities as an economic factor.
The bill, drafted by Commerce Minister Valerius Pop, was to have been submitted from June 8 for King Carol’s signature. Announcement of the bill stirred wide resentment among Jews and other minorities groups. Representatives of the German and Hungarian minorities announced they would protest enactment of the bill to the League of Nations.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.