Lack of Fees for Citizenship Data Depriving Thousands of Rumanian Nationality

Tens of thousands of Jews will lose Rumanian nationality because they are unable to pay the considerable fees for the numerous documents needed to prove they are entitled to citizenship, a Jewish Telegraphic Agency survey revealed today

Revision of citizenships held by Jews, under a decree promulgated by King Carol late last year, is now in Full progress. Persons financially unable to comply with the formalities of the revision comprise the bulk of those being deprived of their nationality, the survey shows.

Their fate is a problem which will raise a serious international issue. Anticipating the League of Nation’s interest, Foreign Minister Petrescu-Comen issued the following statement here:

“Rumania will avoid all interference in the internal matters of other States and at the same time is resolved not to tolerate any interference, irrespective of its nature, in its own internal matters.”

There is no doubt that the Foreign Minister referred to the Jewish question, which the Rumanian Government considers a purely internal affair, despite existing treaties under which Rumania guaranteed the rights of minorities.

Meanwhile, although abolition of political parties has resulted in slackening of anti-Semitic tension, the process of “Rumanizing” industry, trade and the professions is being continued by the Christea Government.

This is no longer being accomplished by the rash, spectacular methods of the Goga Cabinet, but methodically, quietly and thoroughly. Goga measures such as elimination of Jewish civil servants, panel doctors and contractors, are being retained. The anti-Jewish press is permitted to continue its campaign of hatred despite the strict censorship and regulations forbidding political propaganda. Nevertheless, the country is quieter than it has been for many months, with few cases of anti-Jewish excesses, the result of drastic measures by the Interior Ministry and the Military prefects.