Prince Stirby
to Mr. Morris.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Minister: Had it not been for my hasty
departure for Bucharest, I should have wished to call on you, and to
tell you with what sadness and surprise I have learned the vote of
Congress of the United States of the so-called persecution against
the Jews in Roumania; bub I think that I may assure you that the
good faith of the American people, taken unaware for one moment,
will soon be sufficiently enlightened.
You are in a better position, Mr. Minister, than any one else, to
know to what the pretended question of the Jews is reduced. If it
has for a moment taken proportions, it is in consequence of
interested passions, that found pleasure in giving it color that it
had not; be it to excite a country full of vigor, and which desires
to conduct its business without being troubled by any one, be it to
force upon Roumania individuals without faith, who, driven from the
little encouraging hospitality of its neighbors, arrive by thousands
to its frontiers.
The Jewish Association has played a singular part, not to say a
melancholy part, in this whole matter. Has it wished to seek again
popularity with the people of their own creed? Has it wished to be
talked of in the world? What I know is, that it was pleased to
change facts, with an audacity and enmity which certainly would not
have rendered the Jews sympathy in Roumania if the laws had not
protected them.
If there is, indeed, a tolerant country in the world it is certainly
Roumania. All religions
[Page 656]
are admitted there, and eachmay celebrate, follow, and preach its
creed. Polygamy alone is excluded, because our social state does not
admit it. Since centuries Jews were permitted to live in Roumania
without being molested, neither in their creed nor in the enjoyment
of civil rights. How many nations are there not who had to imitate
the toleration of my country? Therefore, if the Israelite
Association desire, by its propaganda, to make believe in
persecutions in Roumania, it counts, indeed, too much upon the
influence which its riches and its powerful ramifications give if.
Its game is unmasked now in Europe; it tries to transport it to the
United States. It has counted on the distance, and also on the
generous feelings of the American people, to inflame public
opinion.
I doubt not, Mr. Minister, that you will assist us to spread the
truth and to set forth the facts such as they are. The question has,
indeed, been distorted with an ingenious perfidy. There is no
persecution and there never has been any in Roumania. The Jews who
are established there may exercise their creed in full security, and
render-homage to its hospitable laws. As a proof, Mr. Minister, a
rich banker in Bucharest has six months ago made a donation to the
government of a considerable amount of money, for the purpose of
sending every year to Paris several young people, to finish there
their studies. Roumania opens its gates to all strangers, without
distinction, who respect its laws and behave honorably. But as to
open its gates to an invasion of individuals, who, repulsed from
abroad, come without any means of existence, only to carry on a
trade of which morality disapproves, but which cannot easily be
reached by law, only to serve as spies to foreign countries,
Roumania can never yield to that.
In sowing such germs in a young country like ours, can it hope to
form citizens?
* * * * * * *
Deign to accept, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my profound
respect.
