871.4016/265: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania ( Gunther ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 4—11:35 a.m.]
610. My 599, July 1, 7 p.m. I yesterday asked Secretary General Tzianu7a whether he could acquaint me with any extenuating circumstances in connection with the wholesale shooting of Jews by the army at Jassy. He replied somewhat embarrassed that it was a military matter and he had no information other than that Jews had fired from houses upon the German and Rumanian forces. I have since learned that some or all of this firing was done by Communist legionnaires.
I asked him whether all 500 Jews had fired and also whether there had been a trial with an opportunity for the examination of evidence or whether this action was taken merely upon accusations and hearsay evidence. He had nothing to add and I remarked that the incident had attracted my attention especially since the executions were carried out by the armed forces of the Government in contradistinction to the program [pogrom?] in Bucharest in January last carried out by the unofficial legionary mobs.
I am reliably informed that over and above those mentioned, 23 Jewish families in or near Jassy were completely wiped out and that 2 days ago 5 or 6 heads of Jewish families in Ploesti were taken out and shot because slight cracks showing light during blackouts had been observed.
- Alexander Cretzianu, Secretary General of the Rumanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩