871.4016/238
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9.]
Sir: Adverting to my telegram No. 327 of July 2, 5 p.m., I have the honor to report that Ambassador Stoica, formerly Ambassador at Ankara and now Under Secretary of Propaganda, told me the other evening at dinner at my house in honor of himself and the representatives of the American newspapers, that his Government was going to do everything within its power to prevent anti-Jewish outbreaks, but that it greatly feared such outbreaks on the part of the Army as the latter was so incensed at the treatment meted out to it by the Jews in Bessarabia when it was withdrawing. I observed that for once Rumania had a good press in the outside world, where there was great sympathy because it had been set upon by a powerful nation of 180,000,000 people, and that I thought it would be a great pity to sacrifice this for the sake of a Pogrom or two.
On another recent occasion I had an opportunity informally to emphasize to Prime Minister Gigurtu that any internal disturbance, especially Jewish persecution, might easily be seized upon by Russia as an excuse for further action. Prime Minister Gigurtu, I feel, is fully alive to this possibility, and represents the more moderate element in the present Government’s consideration of the Jewish question.
A communiqué issued this morning reads as follows:
“A Council of Ministers met today (July 19) at seven p.m. under the Presidency of Engineer Ion Gigurtu, President of the Council of Ministers, and examined the principles relative to the laws proposed for the incorporation of the Jewish element into the new order of the Rumanian State in accordance with the provisions contained in the law for the organization of the Party of the Nation.”
It would appear that the discussions in this meeting hinged on the character of the laws to be passed regarding Jews, the extreme Iron Guard and Rightist element in the Cabinet strongly urging the promulgation of a set of laws similar to the Nürnberg Laws of Germany, while the more moderate element headed by Premier Gigurtu favors laws along the lines of the more restrained anti-Semitic legislation of Italy and Hungary. The Gigurtu group maintains that to pass rigid [Page 768] laws against Jews at the present critical moment would seriously affect the economic structure of the State, as well as create a most unfortunate impression among nations abroad, particularly the United States. Some observers take the view that should there be no further pressure from Hungary and Bulgaria for territorial cession at present the moderate group will win its point and there will be no strong anti-Semitic reaction in Rumania; if, however, the Government is forced to cede more territory immediately, a cession for which public opinion has not yet been adequately prepared, the Iron Guard thesis will be more likely to win because the Government will find it necessary to resort to anti-Semitic agitation as a cloak and counter-irritant.
In recent days a few mild anti-Jewish measures have been announced but nothing to suggest a really vicious program. One of the first steps was, as already reported, the elimination of Jews from the local press and the suppression of a few Jewish newspapers. It may be mentioned, in addition, that several of the Ministers have announced the dismissal of Jews from public office in their respective departments, the Minister of Cults and Arts has issued a regulation withdrawing the subvention allocated to the Jewish cult, the Christian clergy are forbidden to baptize Jews, kosher slaughter has been prohibited and measures have been taken to prevent Jews from acting as representatives of foreign commercial firms. There are other minor indications, of course, but so far the various measures can in no way compare with those taken during the Goga regime of early 1938. I accordingly feel that no really strong Jewish persecutions are apt to eventuate in the near future except as they may arise out of new circumstances created by the evolution of international events or further dissatisfaction in the Army.
There are no sure indications as yet of German official pressure for widespread elimination of the Jewish element, possibly in view of the attitude of Bolshevik Russia. But it is recalled that at the time of the German occupation of this country in 1917–18 the Jews were used on a large scale by the invaders for all sorts of minor services, and even now it is questionable whether the Germans could dispense with the many Jews being employed by them as middle-men for their agricultural purchases. …
Respectfully yours,