SANGER, Secretary to Evarts, October 30, 1879

Mr. Isaacs to Mr. Evarts.

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,