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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. IHIIIM111M11 !l III m IIIIIM m lllll IIIIIUI1111IIIIII n I! II11 Ml Ml III 11 n 111111 III 11IIIII li INI l(! 11M IN 11 III II III MIH U It 111111 HI 11 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- • u- n T™ FR ° M ™ E F AMILY ALBUM Showing King Carol, his inamorata i 1 Jewish merchant of Jassy, having a good tim^^i. and her father -,e KlY, Y°an da > s <