Secrets of the Balkans (1921) (14777648731)

Identifier: secretsofbalkans00vopi (find matches)
Title: Secrets of the Balkans
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Vopicka, Charles J., 1857-1935
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918 -- Balkan Peninsula Eastern question (Balkan) Balkan Peninsula -- Politics and government
Publisher: Chicago : Rand, McNally & company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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try was disposed to better those conditions, and thatunder the leadership of America the Jewish questionshould be settled, so that the Jews would obtain notonly their liberty but equality with the other inhabitantsof Roumania. Soon after I arrived in Bucharest and had beenreceived as Minister of the United States to Roumania,I began an investigation to ascertain why so few Jewishsubjects of that country were permitted to becomecitizens, and why so much ill feeling existed againstthem. I even spoke to King Carol and to the presentKing Ferdinand concerning it. King Carol said to me: The Jews are better educated than the Roumanians,so we must first build schools where our own peoplemay be taught. Then in twenty years the Roumanianswill be well enough educated to vote on the question ofwhether or not the Jews shall be admitted to citizenship. To this I answered: That is too long a time.Neither you nor I will have a chance to see that reform. When Roumania entered the war, in August, 1916,
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ADVICE TO BESSARABIANS 271 the Jewish question became more acute than ever, formany Jews were charged with being German spies, andmany were arrested and interned and their propertyconfiscated. I took the part of the Jews, defended thembefore the Roumanian government, and succeeded inhaving many of them freed and their property returnedto them. The most important matter in connection with theJewish situation developed in 1917, when the seat ofthe Roumanian government was in Jassy. When Iarrived there, September 16, Mr. Moritz Wachtel,President of the Banca Moldavia, informed me thathe could furnish proof that Jewish soldiers in the Rou-manian service were taken from their various regimentsand placed in the front lines, so that they would be thefirst to get killed; also that they were inhumanly treatedby Roumanian officers and soldiers alike, and that theyfailed to receive advancement or any reward for heroicconduct. On the other hand, Prime Minister Bratianoand other Roumanian official