News Brief

that the Ministry of War recently issued an order for aliens (inclusive of Jews) to be no longer allowed to work in chanceries. The quoted paper protested against this measure and wrote: “The soldier who wears the uniform of the country and serves under the Roumanian flag cannot and must not be considered an alien.”

The Ministry of Cults approved, without consulting the Mosaic Cult, the functioning of synagogues during the Jewish fall holidays in houses of amusement: theatres, vaudeville and movie houses. The representatives of temples and synagogues, as well as the Rabbinical Advisory Committee and the Jewish Community of Bucharest protested in motions addressed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Cults against the ridicule of the Mosaic Cult. All protests were in vain. The press protested against the Government’s measures.

The Ministry of Cults published the text of a telegram which the Congress of Orthodox Jews of Vienna is supposed to have addressed to Dr. Vlad, congratulating him on the modification of the Law of Cults. Our newspaper proved that this telegram did not emanate from the Bureau of the Congress but from a Rabbi in this country, an agent of Mr. Vaida.

The Minister of Instruction ordered the Jewish schools to replace the Jewish teachers with Christian teachers, in spite of the fact that these schools were subsidized by the Jewish communities. At the same time, the Ministry of Instruction imposed the reduction of the number of hours in the Hebraic language because of the statutes of the law of private education voted under the Bratianu Government, in which the Hebrew language is set down as a foreign language. On the same grounds, it is prohibitive for Jewish schools to teach another foreign language: as for example, the German language, which was taught for ten consecutive years in the Jewish schools.

The Ministry of Cults ordered that the subsidy accorded through the budget to the Mosaic Cult be distributed individually to each community. This measure helps the Ministry to evade the payment of the provisions of the budget. A great majority of the Jewish communities were deprived of their quota.

October 1929—The “Monitorul Official” of the District of Brasov of October 1st published a notice by which the Ministry of Interior praised Mr. Tazlaoanu and called him “arch defender.” Finally, an indirect explanation of the official role Mr. Tazlaoanu played in connection with the Congress and disturbances of Putna.

The Government published in the foreign press a communique denying the news regarding the anti-Semitic disturbances after the Putna Congress. Here is the text of this communique: “The rumors published by some paper regarding the anti-Semitic disturbances in Roumania are entirely false. These disturbances consisted only of a scandal provoked by five students who molested a number of travelers in a train. The authorities have decided to take severe steps to prevent such manifestations.” On the one hand, the representatives of the same government declared at Geneva that: “The Roumanian Government will punish the culprits with all severity.” In other words, on the one hand the occurrences are denied, and on the other hand the assurance given that “the culprits will be punished.”

The Jewish medical students of Jassy could not pass their examinations because of lack of Jewish corpses which were necessary, since the University decided—in order to satisfy the demands of the Christian students—that the Jews could only dissect Jewish corpses. The same measures were applied by the Faculty of Cluj. Interventions were made at the Ministry of Instruction to curb these illegalities.

November 1929—The National Union of Christian Students agreed to convoke the general student Congress in Craiova. On the agenda was: “Numerus clausus,” the political orientation of students, etc. The Government approved the Congress, in spite of the fact that what happened after the Congress of Putna was still fresh in our memories. The Government accorded the Christian students again subsidies, free fare and lodging. Assurances were given that measures would be taken to preserve order.

“Vorwarts,” a paper of Cornauti, published the following circular letter received by all Prefects of the 8th division:

“At the instance of the R. M. S. (Monopolies of the Roumanian State) the Military Staff-Office has approved that in the future the sale of gunpowder for hunting shall be made by all dealers in the capitals of districts with the exception of the minoritarians.” This paper added the following: “More than a year has passed since the admittance of this decree. The communique is now distributed to all dealers during a time when in all reunions and festivities the friendly attitude of the Government towards the minoritarians is praised.”

The message for the opening of the Parliamentary session does not mention anything regarding the minorities problem. Not a single word regarding the promised modification of the naturalization law. The minorities and the Jewish Deputies reveal in the Senate and the House this symptomatic lack in the message.

December 1929—The Congress of the Christian Students was held during December 1-2-3 at Craiova. The authorities greeted the Congress in the name of the Government, couched in terms of approbation. At the opening, as well as the close of the Congress, the representatives of the authorities expressed their satisfaction at the holding of the Congress, at the resolutions adopted and the attitude of the Congress. The Congress decided, among other things, to formulate demands in order to realize the exclusion of Jews from superior schools and other branches of public life.

Deputy Landau demanded in the House an explanation from the Government regarding its official participation in the Congress. He demanded on this occasion that the Government clarify its attitude toward the Jewish population of the country.

Minister N. Costachescu answered in the name of the Government. He declared that at the Student Congresses the purpose was to attain a sound and mature understanding of citizenship. He added that the money advanced by the Government to the Christian Students is money given by their parents. In surprisingly violent terms, Minister Costachescu defended the Christian Student body even in its extremist manifestations, saying that these manifestations are the outgrowth of the inherent exuberance and temperament of the youth. This buoyancy brings credit to the student, Minister Costachescu asserted. “We should be pleased and thankful to see this outburst of life and energy in our youth.”

The Government approved anew the celebration of December 10th, through meetings and manifestations by the associations of Christian students. Mr. Iorga let it be known that the authorization for the Congress of Craiova, as well as for the celebration of December 10th, was granted without the University being consulted, even in spite of it.

An interpellation was made in the lower House regarding the students’ anti-Semitic disturbances in Jassy, Cluj and Temisoara. Messrs. Madgearu and Costachescu answered. Both answers gave assurances that the guilty persons would be punished. Neither Minister was in a position to cite a sentence imposed on the culprits, although the discussions were held one week after the perpetration of the anti-Semitic excesses.

The Government requested Mr. Nahum Sokolow, who was in the country, to forego his visit to Jassy, inasmuch as it could not guarantee that order would be maintained on account of the students’ anti-Semitic agitations. Mr. Sokolow renounced his visit to Jassy. The press unanimously condemns the Government, which again failed to take measures to prevent disturbances and punish the guilty.