No. 38.
Mr. Kasson
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Vienna, February 25, 1880.
(Received March 15.)
No. 297.]
Sir: You will have been already advised of the
complete recognition of Roumanian independence by the remaining parties to
the Berlin treaty, which I advised you in my No. 271 was pending. It took
place on the 20th instant at Bucharest, by means of identical notes
delivered to the princely government on that date by the agents of England,
France, and Germany. The English agent immediately afterwards presented his
credentials as minister plenipotentiary.
Germany having delayed the recognition in order to force the execution of the
railroad convention, this unacknowledged motive was retired behind the
screen which Austria set up in the form of a mediatory dispatch to the three
dilatory powers. I inclose herewith an English translation of the Austrian
note above mentioned, which persuades the outstanding governments to accept
the precedent action touching the Jewish question as satisfactory. The
reasons suggested deserve your attention.
I also transmit herewith a copy of the identic note of recognition
communicated to the Roumanian Government.
* * * * * * *
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
297.—Translation.]
Baron Haymerle to
the governments of Berlin, Paris, and
London.
Vienna, February 7,
1880.
The envoy extraordinary of Roumania at Vienna, Mr. de Balatchano, has
asked us, In the name of his government, to be pleased to initiate
proceedings near the cabinets of Berlin, London, and Paris, with the
view of engaging them no longer to delay the acknowledgment of the
independence of the principality and to establish with it, through the
nomination of a diplomatic representative, regular relations.
The Roumanian envoy insisted that Roumania, in proceeding to the revision
of Article VII of the Roumanian Constitution, and in applying without
delay the principle of religious equality by the naturalization of a
considerable number of Israelites, has conformed to the Treaty of
Berlin, and believes that she has consequently become entitled to the
favorable regard of the powers which have signed the treaty.
Called, like the other powers, to watch over the application of the
principle contained in Article XLIV of the Treaty of Berlin, we have
examined with the greatest care the successive communications of the
Roumanian Government relative to the measures which have been adopted by
it, with the view of putting the legislation of the country in harmony
with this principle.
If we consider the situation of Roumania, and take note of the
difficulties, political and social, by which the government of the
prince was unquestionably surrounded, in the accomplishment of its task,
we cannot avoid acknowledging that by the law upon the revision of
Article VII of the constitution, as well as subsequently by the
naturalization of a certain number of Israelites, the Roumanian
legislation has taken an important step in advance, and that the
princely government has given evidence of its sincere intention to
satisfy the unanimous desire of Europe.
Without doubt, much still remains to be done in order that this
satisfaction can be regarded as full and complete; we, however,
entertain the opinion that this result can only be attained by degrees
and by fresh and constant efforts. We think that the Roumanian
Government, which in the circulars of Mr. Boeresco of the 12–24 October
and of the ______ November of last year, has promised to complete the
work begun and to prosecute the application of the principle recently
established in the Roumanian constitutions, will find in the recogniton
of its independence, and in the presence of
[Page 53]
the diplomatic representatives of all the signatory
powers at Bucharest, a fresh encouragement and valuable support.
Animated by a sincere sympathy for Roumania, we have believed it to be
our duty to favorably regard its proposition, and we do not hesitate to
address to the cabinet of _____ ___ the request that it would be pleased
to take into serious consideration the desire of the princely
government. Be pleased to advise us of the appreciation which the
contents of this dispatch will have found near the ____ government.
Receive, &c.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 297.]
Identic note from Germany, France, and England, to
the Government of Roumania, delivered February 20, 1880.
[February
20, 1880]
My government has, through the agent of his royal highness the Prince,
been informed of the official promulgation on the 25th of October, 1879,
of an amendment passed by the constituent assembly of Roumania, to make
the letter of the constitution of the , principality conform with the
stipulations contained in the forty-fourth article of the Treaty of
Berlin. My government cannot, however, look upon this constitutional
amendment, brought to its knowledge as above mentioned, and especially
those clauses by which individuals belonging to non-christian creeds
residing permanently in Roumania, and not subjects of any foreign
government, are compelled to undergo the formalities of individual
naturalization as perfectly corresponding with the ideas which actuated
the signatory powers at the Congress of Berlin. Trusting, however, that
the Prince’s government will, in putting these changes in the
constitution into effect, approximate continually to the liberal ideas
which prompted the great powers, and taking into consideration the
positive assurances conveyed in that sense, my government, desirous of
giving to the Roumanian nation an evidence of its friendly sentiments,
has decided to recognize the independence of the principality of
Roumania without further delay, and declares itself prepared to
inaugurate regular diplomatic relations with the government of the
Prince. The undersigned, in communicating the decision of his government
to the minister of foreign affairs, has the honor to renew the
assurances of his most distinguished consideration, &c.
