Wednesday, January 29th.—Sir Moses addressed a letter to Prince Charles, and despatched it, by Lord Stanley's permission, through the Foreign Office. Monsieur Stefan Golisue, Minister for Foreign Affairs, sent a reply, of which the following, with the exception of a few sentences, is a translation:—
"Bucharest, 7/19th February 1868.
"Sir,—His Serene Highness Prince Charles I. has shown me the letter which you have addressed to him, in favour of the Jewish population of Roumania, in consequence of the troubles which happened at Berlad. In requesting me to answer it, His Highness has also charged me to thank you, sir, for your good wishes, and for the kind sentiments you were pleased to express. In conformity with the declaration contained in the speech from the throne, and true to the sentiments of equity which this declaration attests—sentiments which you, sir, are good enough to acknowledge and to praise, His Highness is determined not to permit that any class of his subjects, whatever may be their religion, shall ever be molested with impunity on account of their creed, or for any other cause.
"Our august Sovereign also desires me to assure you, that those of your co-religionists who have suffered in the troubles of Berlad will be indemnified for all losses legally certified to have been caused by these most regrettable occurrences, into which a most searching enquiry will be made, in order to find out their real authors.
"Although I deplore as much as you, sir, these sad occurrences, it is still my duty to caution you against the exaggerated accounts of the same, given by several public organs. I am able to assure you that, although most regrettable, they are far from having the gravity which has been incorrectly attributed to them.—With the assurance of my highest regard, I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant,
"Stefan Golisue."
Sir Moses published this letter in the Times, and, with a view of further impressing upon the Roumanian Government the necessity of putting a stop to the reported outrages, addressed the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a suitable letter, at the same time enclosing him a copy of the Times.
No stronger words, it will be seen, could be used than those given in the Minister's letter regarding the good intentions of the Roumanian Government. Unfortunately, however, in the very same month, and again three months afterwards, reports of violence and organised measures of oppression in Moldavia reached England, France, and Germany.
In a telegram from the Jewish community of Jassy, dated March 26th, information is given to the effect that "thirty-one Radical Deputies, including the President, have presented to the Chamber the following Bill, which has been at once sent to the Sections:
"1st. The Jews shall not reside in the country. For residence in the town, they must first obtain a special licence.
"2nd. The transgressors shall be treated as vagabonds, and expelled by the municipalities.
"3rd. The Jews shall not buy nor sell houses.
"4th. The Jews shall not farm lands, forests, vineyards, enclosures, pastures, mills, distilleries, public-houses, and inns.