Evarts to Kasson, November 28, 1879

No. 27. Mr. Evarts to Mr. Kasson.

Sir: Your dispatch No. 256 of the 31st ultimo, inclosing the reply of of His Highuess the Prince of Roumania to the letter which the President addressed to him on the 15th of August, 1878, has been received. In connection with the subject of Roumanian recognition, I inclose for your consideration a copy of a letter under date of the 30th ultimo, from Mr. Myer S. Isaacs, president, and other officers of the board of delegates on civil and religious rights of the Hebrews, asking that the government of the United States may exert its influence towards securing for the Hebrew subjects and residents in Roumania the equality of civil and religious rights stipulated in Article XLIV of the treaty of Berlin.

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.

I am, &c.,