Balkan Rulers “permitted” to Relax Anti-jewish Laws, Nazi Propagandists Say

Nazi propagandists hers are spreading reports that Hitler has indicated to Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria that he would not be opposed to easing of the anti-Jewish measures in those countries.

This new propaganda line of the Nazis is puzzling neutral observers here, especially in the light of underground reports from Poland indicating that the extermination of Jews by the Nazis is assuming even larger proportions than hitherto. It is obvious that both the Nazi propaganda activities here and the intensified Nazi executions of Jews in occupied Poland are closely linked to the reverses which the German armies are suffering on the Russian front.

INDEPENDENT REPORTS SHOW INCREASE IN ANTI-JEWISH ACTIVITIES

Independent reports reaching here from Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria reveal, however, that the Nazi-controlled governments of these countries are far from even considering any relaxation of their anti-Jewish regulations. In Hungary the pro-Nazi Arrow Cross organization is pressing the municipality of Budapest to eject all Jews from their dwellings and to turn over the Jewish homes to “homeless Aryans.” The campaign is being conducted on the pretext that “the housing shortage can be solved only by ejecting Jews from their residences.”

Further anti-Jewish measures are also being demanded by the press in Rumania. The newspaper Argus, leading financial organ published in Bucharest, alleges that “the Jews are still represented in Rumania’s textile industry.” Expressing indignation at the fact that Jews are still engaged in certain industrial enterprises because of their experience and commercial connections in neutral countries, this government-controlled organ insists that “complete Romanization” be achieved in every field of commerce and industry in the country and that not a single Jew be allowed to remain.

From Bulgaria the Nazi Transocean news agency reported today that a new order has been issued in Sofia forbidding Jewish children to attend schools. The order instructs school principals to expel all Jewish pupils no matter how long they have been attending the institution.