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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
La B
J
el e juive o
f Bucharest
Magda Lupescu, in First and Only Exclusive Interview,
Tells of King Carol s and Her Own Attitude Toward Jews
By MARIANNE OUREENEVA
The controversy concerning the where
abouts of Magda Lupescu is still raging.
Persistent rumors claim she is in Ruma
nia. Rumanian diplomats hotly deny her
presence in Bucharest. Newspaper corre
spondents write that they have seen the
Rumanian Woman of Destiny in Switzer
land, and the next day are confronted with
uncontrovertible proof that they have seen
wrong. Editors of big continental and
American publications have set up a con
siderable premium for any one who would
bring evidence of the present residence of.
the “Redhead of Bucharest”. The premium
remains unpaid.
The fact that the two claims—that Ma
dame Lupescu is in Rumania and that she
is not in Bucharest—are both correct.
Magda Lupescu is in Rumania, but she is
not within the boundaries of the City of
Bucharest. 1 am not in a position to reveal
the exact location of her abode, my silence
on that point being the price which the
Titian Lady of Rumania exacted from me
in return for the interview.
My conversation with Madame Lupescu
was not officially for publication. The lady
for whom the King at one time gave up the
crown did not really know, though I think
she did suspect, that she was talking to a
journalist. It is perhaps for this reason
that she spoke so guardedly.
“1 wish people would stop calling me a
.Je wess. It does no one any good—and be
sides, it isn’t true.”
Realizing that her statement had startled
me, she went on to explain: “This is not
the first time that l definitely deny being
a Jewess. 1 have done so time and again.
1 resent the making of political capital of
my—well—of racial feeling. If some one
would bother to investigate the church rec
ords he would discover that when 1 mar
ried Captain Tampeno, years ago, l became
converted to Christianity. There really is
no reason to call me a Jewess,
except that some people wish to
embarass my—er—friends.
“Please don’t misunderstand
me. 1 am not ashamed of my
parentage. I love my father
more than any one else. I, per
sonally, have no prejudice or
petty feeling on religion. I re
spect any sincere believer.”
One did not need to be a clair
voyant to see that “La Belle
Juive,” as Madame Lupescu is
nicknamed in political circles,
was eager to disentangle her
self from the gossip that is link
ing her name with the Jewish
issue in her country. Her irri
tation was ill-concealed. The
meaning of her words was much
clearer than she herself intend
ed. Later I was told, by a good
friend of hers, that Madame
Lupescu is so thoroughly Jewish
While the whereabouts of Madame
Magda Lupescu, King Carol's Jewish com
panion in exile, are a deep mystery to the
world, the author of this interview suc
ceeded in gaining access to her. It is the
fit xt time since the return of King Carol
to the throne that Magda Lupescu’s views
on her Jewishness are directly reported.
Cor obvious reasons the name of the writer
is a pseudonym.
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in her sympathies that she fears lest the
net of scandal and intrigue in which she is
being involved should come to threaten the
safety of the Rumanian Jews.
There is something frank and open in
the countenance of La Lupescu. Tall and
robustly built, without, however, appearing
stout, Madame Lupescu gives the impres
sion of a vigorous, strong but quick-tem
pered person. Her movements are brisk and
energetic; her manner of speech sober and
matter-of-fact. There is no baby-talk in her
intonation. She does not try to pose as
ultra-feminine. Dressed in a simple white
gown—she adores white, I am told—she
looks, despite her auburn hair and the Ger
man contours of her face, decidedly Sem
itic, especially when she is seen in profile.
She carries herself with natural grace, but
notwithstanding her athletic figure she does
not impress one as a sportswoman. There
is something Oriental in her demeanor. She
is tully aware of her charm, and uses little
cosmetics and jewelry.
"1 am tired of being made the scape
goat ol politics,” she sighed wearily. “I
have nothing whatsoever to do with state
affairs. I am loyal to my friends and am
doing everything in my power to keep in
the shadows. You can see for yourself that
I am living practically as in an internment
camp.”
tiously, “is, however, interpreted, in circles
regarded as authoritative, as affecting not
merely the status of the Jews but the en
tire political situation in Rumania. Your
silence is considered a confirmation of the
weirdest rumors.”
The Redhead of Bucharest made a vehe
ment gesture. “I know that as well as you
do. But I am helpless. I would not for any
thing in the world embarrass His Majesty
the King. He is doing everything to
straighten out this enervating mess. What
ever he will decide I shall accept as a com
mand. Because of malicious propaganda
the sources of which I prefer not to men
tion the personality of King Carol has been
shamefully distorted. Those who have had
the privilege of knowing the King inti
mately will tell you that his wide knowl
edge of economics, sociology and human
nature is truly amazing. He is a true demo
crat, and his tolerance is proverbial.”
By way of bringing the conversation
back to the Jewish question I asked: “Does
the King realize that the political situation
of the Jews in his country is unsatisfac
tory?”
“Of course. I am positive that the King
is doing all he can to quell anti-Semitic
propaganda. If you doubt this ask the par
tisans of Cuza and Codreanu. They will
go so far as to claim that the King is pro-
Jewish; they whisper that I have a share
in the stern measures which His Majesty’s
Government is taking against the Iron
Guardists. This, of course, is ludicrous. I
am not linked up with any political move
ment or party. The King, however, has
time and again told—er—his friends that
he will not stand for any discrimination
against the minority population of his
country. Unfortunately the same cannot be
reported about other members of the royal
family. Anti-Semitism is deeply rooted
among the ‘better’ classes”—the word “bet
ter” was given a sarcastic in
tonation—“who believe that all
Jews are money-lenders and out
rageous usurers. In the military
and university circles especial \
you can find many supposedly
educated persons who believe in
the wildest fairy tales about
Jewish voracity and lust for de
struction. I doubt whether an>
person living in Rumania all hi- s
life can free himself of this
prejudice against the Jews.
“The King is very much a
man of the world. He has trav
eled extensively and lived out
side of Rumania for years. '
has met and become ’ ieiu d
with many Jewish leaders o
finance and culture. L '
cause of his liberal an kI T
cratic inclinations th
King is attacked so bi‘ *■> v,
his (Continued on 1
“Your—er—position,” I suggested ci
cau-
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Showing King Carol, his inamorata i 1
Jewish merchant of Jassy, having a good tim^^i. and her father
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