Evening star., 1938-01-07
A Timely Protest.

There is ample precedent and tradi-
ton to bulwark the resolution introduced
In the House yesterday by Representa-
tive Slrovich of New York, protesting
against the maltreatment of Jews and
other racial and religious groups in Ru-
mania. The repressive measures Just
promulgated at Bucharest threaten the
existence of the country's entire Jewish
population OF nearly million souls.
They rival in ruthlessness the persecu-
tlons which that people have suffered
in Germany ever since the Reich came
under the Nazi yoke Indeed, every in
dication is at hand that the Goga minis
try's heartless crusade finds its inspira-
ton, as we'll as its counterpart, in the
cult of hate which the Hitlers the Goer-
ings. the Goebbelses and the Streichers
have propagated with ferocity that
has staggered civilized mankind
The Sirovich resolution calls upon
President Roosevelt to 'intercedc in the
name of humanity against the shameful
treatment by the Rumanian government
of its religious and racial minorities, and,
failing to receive satisfaction, to sever
diplomatic relations with Rumania."
Over period of seventy years-for anti
Semitism in Rumania is that old-the
Washington government has made re-
peated protests against it. Hamilton
Fish, President Grants Secretary of
State in a series of diplomatic repre-
sentatons, in 1870 and 1872, caused Ru-
mania to be informed that although the
United States scrupulously abstains from
interfering directly or indirectly in the
public affairs of Rumania, the grievance
in question is so enormous as to impart
to 1t common character in the redress
Of which all countries and governments
and creeds are alike interested" In 1902,
Secretary of State John Hay reafhrmed
the United States remonstrance against
q revival of Rumanian anti-Semitism.
Mr.. Hay pointed out that although this
country was not signatory to the treaty
Of Berlin. whereby Rumania, in 1873,
obtained its independence from Turkey,
the United States regarded itself justi-
fed IN the name of humanity and because
Of the possible effect of the immigration
Of oppressed Jews, to protest against the
unjust cruelties to which the new
Rumanian laws subjected them.
OF more current interest is the formal
undertaking given in 1923 by the then
Rumanian Minister to the United States,
Mr.. Cretziano that his government was
firm in its determination to put an
end" to the anti-Semitic practices which
were again raging The pledges in ques-
tion became a matter of official record
through their submission to Congress
exactly ten years ago this week. The
horrors now being visited upon Ru-
manian Jews turn them into a scam
dalous mockery.
1t is the established and oft-demon-
strated policy of the United States Gov
eminent to protest injustices to perse-
cuted peoples. 1t found revived express
sion in Cuba in 1898; in the case Of
Christian Armenians in Turkey in 1915;
on behalf of the oppressed Jews of Rus
sia during the Arthur. Taft and Roose-
welt administrations, eliminating in
abrogation of the Russo American COM
mercial treaty in 1911. If Congress
passes the Sirovich resolution authoriz-
ing protest to Rumania, it will reflect
American resentment of as barbarous a
species of oppression as the world has
witnessed in our time. There is every
reason to believe that President of the
militant huma manitarianism of Franklin D.
Roosevelt would not hesitate to carry
the wishes of House and Senate into
vigorous effect.