As you aware, this government has ever felt a deep interest in the welfare of
the Hebrew race in foreign countries, and has viewed with abhorrence the
wrongs to which they have, at various periods, been subjected by the
followers of other creeds in the East. This Department is therefore disposed
to give favorable consideration to the appeal made by the representatives of
a prominent Hebrew organization in this country in behalf of their brethren
in Roumania, and while I should not be warranted in making a compliance with
their wishes a sine qua non in the establishment of
official relations with that country, yet any terms favorable to the
interest of this much-injured people which you may be able to secure in the
negotiations now pending with the Government of Boumania would be agreeable
and gratifying to this Department.
[Inclosure in No. 138.]
Mr. Isaacs to Mr.
Evarts.
New
York, October 30,
1879.
Sir: It is stated in the newspapers of this
date, upon the authority of a dispatch from Bucharest, that “the United
States minister at Vienna is expected at Bucharest shortly, to formally
recognize Roumanian independence and establish diplomatic relations
between that country and the United States.”
While disavowing our belief in the accuracy of this statement, we
respectfully ask the State Department to communicate with the ministry
at Vienna, to the end that this government may not be committed to an
act of recognition of Roumanian independence while it appears that the
condition precedent upon which, by the treaty of Berlin in 1878,
Roumania was to become an independent state, has not been complied with,
and pending the recognition of Roumania by the powers which
conditionally created her a state.
The Department will recall the effort made last year, with undue haste,
upon the part of the Roumania authorities to secure, from the newly
arrived United States consul at a Danubian port, formal recognition of
the new state. At that time (October, 1878) the representative of this
board was courteously advised at the Department that the consul would
exceed his authority if he undertook to commit the United States in the
manner so confidently declared on the part of Roumania.
The Government of Roumanians straining every nerve to secure from Europe
a modification of the condition imposed by the Berlin Congress—a
condition that simply demands civil and religions liberty for all the
inhabitants of the new state. The oppressive laws enacted and enforced
in Roumania since 185(1, and relating exclusively to Jewish inhabitants,
have so of ten resulted in persecution and outrage affecting liberty and
life, that the representatives of foreign governments accredited to
Bucharest have unitedly protested against the crimes committed in the
name of law, the odious discrimination against inoffensive and
industrious inhabitants whose single “fault” was their religious belief.
The cordial co-operation of our government in this international defense
of a persecuted class was signally beneficial, and the United States
consul at Bucharest from 1870 to 1876 had the opportunity of rescuing
many fugitives from persecution, while his intelligent performance of
duty at an extraordinary crisis received the warm approval of the
Secretary of State. (Letter of Mr. Fish to Mr. Peixotto, May 13, 1872.
Ex. Doc. No. 75, p. 14.)
We shall not dwell upon the unhappy record, which is familiar to the
Department, of Jewish persecution in Roumania. The congress of European
powers at Berlin solemnly enacted, as the basis of Roumanian
independence, the recognition of the principle of civil and religious
liberty. The Roumanian executive and legislative authorities have, after
repeated and ineffectual attempts to move the governments of Great
Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, undertaken a perfunctory
performance of the condition by appearing to consent, “as a compromise
between the views of the prince and the chambers,” that about one
thousand Jews shall be entitled to enfranchisement, each individual of
the other 250,000 Hebrews, the great mass of whom are natives, to
continue without civil rights, unless hereafter, by favor of the
chambers, they shall be permitted to make separate application for
naturalization, which will not be granted save at an expense and after
delay tantamount to the denial of justice. This subterfuge is the
outcome of over a year’s study, and is supposed to satisfy the civilized
world, and to comply with the condition of the Berlin treaty.
Such being the facts, if Roumania asks direct recognition, we do not
doubt for an instant the decision of our government, which first in the
annals of mankind “proclaimed liberty throughout the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof.” We are anxious, however, that the persistent
effort of Roumania to obtain what is so dearly prized, active diplomatic
and commercial relations with the United States, may not, even in
appearance, be attended with success.
We are assured that the Department would profoundly regret if, by
inadvertence, the powerful moral support of the United States should
seem to be given to Roumania in her effort to enjoy the fruits of
independence while evading its obligations. We therefore present these
views for the consideration of the Department.
Very respectfully,
- MYER S. ISAACS,
President
Board.
- S. WOLF, Resident Member.
- ADOLPH L. SANGER,
Secretary.
