No. 598.
Mr. Schuyler to Mr. Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Bucharest
,
March 30, 1881.
(Received April 18.)
No. 51.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 50, dated March
26, I have the honor to inclose herewith (marked 1 and 2) a copy and
translation of a note which I have just received from the foreign office,
containing the official notification of the proclamation of the kingdom. I
also inclose to you (marked 3 to 7) the French translations accompanying the
note of Mr. Boeresco. Translations of Nos. 4 and 5 accompanied my dispatch
No. 50. Nos. 6 and 7, the speeches of Mr. Bratiano and Mr. Boeresco, in the
Chamber, are interesting but not important.
The Belgian Government is the only one thus far which has officially
recognized the change of title. The recognition of the other powers will
probably follow at once. Baron Haymerle has intimated that there will be no
difficulty on the part of Austria-Hungary, and Lord Granville was to receive
the Roumanian minister to-day.
The enthusiasm of the population here has been very great, and has been
increasing rather than diminishing. On Sunday, the 27th, being the day of
the funeral of the late Emperor of Russia, no manifestations were allowed.
On the 28th, Monday, there was a te deum at the
Metropolitan church in the presence of the King and Queen, who again drove
out in the evening through the thronged and illuminated streets. Yesterday
there was a parade of the troops, and in the evening there was again an
illumination, with the same excitement and enthusiasm among the people.
The step has been accepted, if not thoroughly approved, by the members of the
former reigning families, some of whom took part in the act. Prince Michael
Sturdza, of Moldavia (the father of the Prince Gregory Sturdza mentioned in
my No. 50), the sole surviving Hospodar, who now resides at Paris, has
accepted the grand cross of the order of the Star of Roumania.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
51.—Translation.]
Mr. Boeresco to Mr.
Schuyler.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Bucharest
,
March 18 (30),
1881.
No. 5023.]
Mr. Chargé d’Affaires: The 14th (26th) of this
month the Chambers, having before them a bill originating with a private
member, voted unanimously a law which erects Roumania into a kingdom,
and which assigns to its sovereign, to its Domnu,
as well as to his successors, the title of King of Roumania.
The government was glad to accept this bill, which replied so fully to
the frequently manifested wish of the nation, and the law was
immediately sanctioned, promulgated, and published.
I have the honor to put at your disposition herewith, in duplicate, a
translation of the principal acts and discourses which accompanied this
event.
The clearness of the explanations furnished on all sides, in the outburst
of a universal patriotic feeling, authorizes the hope that no erroneous
interpretation will be given to the grand national act, which I should
be glad if you would officially announce to your government.
Roumania in giving the title of King to its sovereign, has only exercised
a right inherent in its quality of a free state. Its constant wisdom and
moderation in the use [Page 984] of a
liberty acquired at the price of its blood are the best guarantees for
the future that it will in no way depart from a conduct, thanks to which
it has conciliated general esteem and confidence.
The royal government hopes that on the basis of these guarantees, and by
virtue of the legitimacy of the modern principle that every nation is
free to regulate its destinies as it wishes on condition of doing no
injury to the rights of any other nation, the Government of the United
States will see with favor a state, which has always received from the
great such precious testimony of sympathy, constitute itself officially
on the Lower Danube and declare itself a kingdom.
Is there need, besides, to attest that in giving itself the name of
kingdom and in offering to its sovereign the title of King, Roumania has
no intention of making any innovation or modification in the
organization of its internal powers or in its policy and its foreign
relations. It proposes simply to strengthen the principle of authority,
to give a new guarantee to order and to stability on the Lower Danube;
finally, to assure its peaceable and progressive advance in the paths of
civilization and internal reform.
We feel assured that foreign powers will take into favorable account the
tendencies of a people which, young as it may be in public life, has
been able to furnish, in a very short but very full past, the surest
proofs of its fitness to be an element of equilibrium and civilization
in the east of Europe.
The Government of His Majesty, King Charles I, cherishes then the firm
hope that the Government of the United States will recognize with
satisfaction the act which has just been accomplished, and will preserve
to the Kingdom of Roumania the confidence and cordiality with which it
was animated towards the Roumanian principality, since the conditions on
which their former relations reposed are not and will not be altered in
any respect.
In reiterating to you my request, in the absence of a representative of
Romania at Washington, kindly to notify to your government the
proclamation of royalty in Roumania, I seize this occasion, Mr. Chargé
d’Affaires, to renew to you the assurance of my high consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
51.—Translation.]
law.
-
Article I. Roumania takes the title of
kingdom. Its sovereign, Charles I, takes for himself and for his
successors the title of King of Roumania.
-
Art. II. The heir to the throne will
bear the title of Prince Royal.
