Dalia Ofer.pdf - WNLibrary

256 ALIYAH, RESCUE, AND THE FINAL SOLUTION, 1942 TO 1944
about which it had received numerous complaints. The government was interested
in preventing unscrupulous people from exploiting the emigrants. It
would not permit damage of the good name of Rumania or a taint on governmental
desire to help the Jews.
To Zissu's chagrin, Lecca remained involved to some degree in Jewish
emigration affairs, but the government's decision offered a reasonable chance
to oust Pandelis. Zissu was named to head an emigration bureau with sole
authority to compose passenger lists. The Rumanian government undertook
to provide ships, the passenger price to be set by the Rumanian Marine
Company (S.M.R.). In the meantime, permission was granted for the departure
of four ready ORAT boats—Kazbek, Morina, Bulbul, and Mefkura.
A special tax was levied on emigrating Jews, half to go to the Rumanian
government and half to the Jewish Center, ostensibly to help pay for services
provided by the Jewish community. 46 Thus, Radu Lecca retained inroads into
the Jewish community and a source of revenue. He submitted lists of emigrants
for approval of the Internal Affairs Ministry, and the portion of the tax
allocated to the Jewish Center passed through his office. Pandelis was not
entirely forced out of the picture, either, though after the four boats had
departed, his role would be minimal. Nevertheless, Zissu took the new developments
as a major step toward legal and large-scale emigration. Did the
Rumanian decision actually help emigration? To answer this, one has to turn
once again to Constantinople.
Between Constantinople and Bucharest
In May, after intense activity that brought 1,200 Jews out of Rumania, the
rescue mission was again in turmoil. Germany confiscated Bulgarian vessels
in Varna, grounding the entire Mossad flotilla. The Firm and Vita had not
made even one trip; the Milca had made only two trips; and the Bela-Chita,
one. Only the Maritsa, in Constantinople, was saved. Despite the severe
setback, plans were afoot for the acquisition of replacements from Turkish
sources. These were berthed in Burgos, in Bulgaria, and had no permits for
Rumania. The Mossad wished to preserve the transports' momentum, so Zissu
and Pandelis were asked to prepare the Smyrni for departure.
Shind waited three weeks, until 20 May, in the vain hope of obtaining a
permit for all the Turkish boats to sail to Constantsa. It was then decided to
launch the largest of the boats, the Kazbek. Perhaps while the preparations
were made, the license would arrive. The Kazbek reached Rumania on 23
May, at the height of the emigration controversy. 47
The rescue mission was apparently unaware of the new problems. On June
5, before Bucharest's decision on Jewish emigration, Zissu reported to Constantinople
to supervise emigration arrangements. That would now, he
stressed, take a more legal route, without the need for subterfuge or the like.
ORAT could continue only if the Jewish Agency would announce approval
of the organization and its methods. 48