Soroca Murder Raised in House of Commons: Sir John Simon Reports Non-committal Information Received

In the House of Commons to-day Colonel Josiah Wedgwood asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had any information as to a shooting of Jews at Soroca on the Roumanian border, and as the Jews in Roumania constitute a minority population, for which we have a treaty liability, would he make enquiries as to what steps were being taken in the matter.

Sir John Simon replied that His Majesty’s Minister at Bucharest had reported that the victims of the incident, five of whom were of the Jewish race, were crossing the River Dniester on a night of January in the direction of Soviet territory when they were challenged by a Roumanian frontier guard. On being challenged they did not stop, and the guards accordingly fired, killing four of the party on the spot and wounding two who subsequently died. A report of the incident published by the Roumanian Minister of Defence stated that all the victims were actually Communists and pointed out that as Communists crossing the River Dniester had been frequently well-armed, the guards had standing orders to fire immediately when persons challenged refused to stop. No information of any complaint in regard to the Minorities Treaty had been made to the League of Nations, and the facts reported would not require the Government to take action.

Mr. Wedgwood asked if the Minister in Bucharest was satisfied that this was the correct account of what happened.

Sir John Simon replied that he had given to the House quite faithfully the report made by the Minister and he would gladly inform him of any further developments. In reply to a further question, he said he was unable to state whether or not the deceased victims had in their possession passports duly visad by the Roumanian authorities.