1867.
RESULT OF APPEALS TO ROUMANIAN BIGOTRY--PERILOUS POSITION OF
THE MISSION--COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF SIR MOSES--AN ENTERPRISING
CONTRACTOR--SATISFACTORY END OF THE MISSION.
The _Natiunea_ having given notice to the Prefecture of its intention
of publicly securing signatures to the above petitions, the following
reply was received:--
"In reply to your notice, No. 3915, without date, I hasten to inform
you that in Roumania, no lists for signatures may be laid out in the
streets and public places, except on the occasion of the plebiscite,
and I do not believe that it is permitted to a private gentleman to
open such plebiscites. The right, however, of petition and meeting
in houses is granted to every Roumanian. If Government were to allow
any one to place subscription tables in public places or streets it
might easily occur that adversaries, entertaining opinions differing
from those expressed in the lists, might come forward, and the police
might hardly suffice to maintain public order. The leading article of
your last Journal has already found many adversaries, and these could
avail themselves of the opportunity to disturb the public peace,
which the Government could by no means suffer, more especially as
your ideas rest upon no sound basis, and the Government feels itself,
without your assistance, sufficiently powerful to protect the right
of the land."
The editor of the Journal _Speranta_ called to say that he was told in
the Public Garden, "we should run away, as the people were now going to
kill Sir Moses."
Reverting to the Diary I find the following entry:--"I feel very weak
and poorly to-day, the air is excessively hot, and I am vexed with
sinister reports and intended outbreaks against the Jews.
"About two o'clock I received, as did likewise Dr Loewe, Captain Moore,
and Mr Daniel, the honour of a card of invitation from His Serene
Highness the Prince, to dine to-day at the Palace.
"We arrived at the Palace a few minutes before half-past five. Mr Green
soon arrived, and he presented my companions to His Serene Highness.
"Prince Charles (now His Majesty, the King), was most courteous and
kind to us. We dined in the Palace, contrary to His Highness' custom.
He generally dined, he told me, in his garden, but was fearful I might
take cold. I sat on the Prince's right; he was exceedingly courteous,
and spoke on many subjects. He had been in Morocco, in the year 1862,
during the Spanish war, in Gibraltar, and twice in England. We had an
excellent entertainment, and his military band played some beautiful
pieces in the garden during dinner.
"The Prince and all the party went into the garden afterwards, and
I had the honour of smoking a cigar with him. Coffee, cigars, and
liqueurs were handed round. We returned much pleased.
"_Thursday, August 29th._--This morning the chief officer of police,
and Monsieur Soveser, Chef de division au Ministère de L'intérieur,
called, and arranged with Sir Moses to accompany him to-morrow to see
the Christian charitable institutions in the city, in accordance with
the wish he expressed yesterday to His Highness. He then rode to Mr
Green's, and had the great benefit of half-an-hour's conversation with
him. 'I hope,' Sir Moses says, 'I satisfied him that the object of my
visit to Roumania was limited entirely to obtain from the Prince and
his Government their assurance that the Jews should enjoy security
of their persons and their property, and be treated kindly and with
justice.'"
On his return to the hotel an extraordinary scene of tumult and uproar
presented itself.
Notwithstanding the reply of the Prefecture to the Notice No. 3915
given by the editor of the _Natiunea_, informing him that in Roumania
no lists for signature may be laid out in the streets and public
places, except on the occasion of the Plébiscite, a table was placed,
with the lists in question for signatures, in front of the windows of
the apartments occupied by Sir Moses, and thousands of people crowded
round the table, many of them approaching towards the windows in the
most threatening attitude. Some persons from the hotel then suddenly
entered the room occupied by Sir Moses, terror-stricken at what they
had seen and heard in the streets, calling his attention to the crowds
at his window, and saying, "They want to take your life."
[Illustration: Sir Moses addressing the threatening populace from the
Hotel at Bucharest. _Vol. II., page 205._]
Most persons in Sir Moses' position would have manifested great fear
and excitement, but this was not the case with him. He went to the
window facing the enraged populace, opened both wings, and placed
himself right in front of it, and I had the privilege of being
permitted to place myself at his side.
"Fire away," he said, "if you like. I came here in the name of justice
and humanity to plead the cause of innocent sufferers." They stared at
him first for a few minutes. Then the shouting and tumult increased,
but still he did not move.
Ultimately the crowd, threatening and shouting, dispersed. In the
evening Mr Halfon, the banker, called. With tears in his eyes, he
cried, "We shall all be massacred."
Monsieur A. Halfon, the President of the Comité de l'Alliance Israélite
de Bucharest had strongly advised Sir Moses not to come to Moldavia
at all, as by doing so he might hurt the feelings of the Prince, the
Government, and the Roumanian population. Sir Moses, however, having
before him the appeal of the Hebrew communities in Moldavia, who
strongly and repeatedly supplicated him to plead their cause before the
Prince personally, did not consider himself justified in following the
advice of Mons. Halfon, especially as Mr Green had made a statement to
the effect that it was the opinion of some persons in Bucharest "that
the wealthy class among the Hebrew community, having no cause whatever
to complain, would not like to join the middle and poorer classes, who
publicly complain of the grievances they have to endure."
At the foot of the page I give an exact copy of Monsieur A. Halfon's
letter.[7]
The tears of the banker, and the threatened massacre of the Jews, did
not affect in any way the indomitable courage of Sir Moses. "Are you
afraid?" said he to M. Halfon; "I have no fear whatever, and will at
once order an open carriage, take a drive through the principal streets
and thoroughfares, go even outside the town, and drive near some public
garden. Every one shall see me; it is a holy cause; that of justice and
humanity. I trust in God; He will protect me."
One of the attendants entering the room, Sir Moses gave the order for
an open carriage, with two lights in front, so that his person might
be seen by everybody. Within ten minutes' time the carriage was ready
at the door. I had the honour of being invited to take a drive with
him and sit by his side. Monsieur Halfon, dreading the consequence of
what he deemed so rash an act, returned to his house. The people in the
hotel, as well as all those who had been watching the house from day
to day, as if they expected some extraordinary event to occur, placed
themselves along the street in two rows, right and left. Hundreds of
new-comers did the same; but we continued our drive without taking any
particular notice of them. We had been driving for nearly two hours,
and all went on peaceably enough; but there was one carriage, as we
drove along outside the town, which appeared purposely to follow us in
every turn we made. Not feeling quite so calm and easy as Sir Moses,
I suggested we should halt and inquire the object of the gentleman in
the rear carriage following us. Sir Moses consented to our doing so. We
were a good distance from the town, on the public road. No lamps were
to be seen except the two in front of our carriage. It was rather an
exciting moment. Upon asking that gentleman, in the Roumanian language,
whether there was any particular reason for his following so closely to
our carriage, he jumped out quickly, and, with an air of determination,
proceeded towards Sir Moses, which made me feel even more uncomfortable
than before, apprehending as I did the sight of a revolver or a dagger.
But happily, to my great relief, he commenced addressing Sir Moses, not
in Roumanian, but in German.
His object in following Sir Moses, he said, was to find an opportunity,
in a convenient, secluded place, to request him to intercede in his
behalf with his Serene Highness Prince Charles, that he would grant him
the continuance of the privilege to light the town with oil-lamps!
It was late when we returned to the hotel, where we found a woman of
ladylike appearance and manner of address waiting to see Sir Moses. She
would not give her name for political reasons, and was very pressing in
her request to have an interview with Sir Moses on a political subject.
A military officer also came to have some private conversation with
him, likewise on a political subject. He was unknown to the persons
in the hotel, nor could his name be ascertained. Sir Moses would not
see either of them, and it was with great difficulty they could be
persuaded to leave the hotel.
_Friday, August 30th._--"I am," Sir Moses says, "most anxious, weak,
out of health, and vexed to the heart. No one can imagine the extreme
pain of my situation. Political factions strive to create confusion by
my presence in this place."
In the evening, however, he had the satisfaction of receiving from
the Prince a reply to his petition, which cheered him up again. His
Highness thus addressed him:
"MONSIEUR LE BARONNET,--J'ai reçu votre lettre du 27 Août dernier
et j'en ai pris connaissance avec un vif intérét. Comme j'ai eu
l'occasion de vous le dire de vive voix, les vœux que vous formez
pour vos co-religionnaires sont déjà accomplis. Les Israélites sont
l'objet de toute ma sollicitude et de toute celle de mon gouvernement
et je suis bien aise que vous soyez venu en Roumanie pour vous
convaincre que la persécution religieuse dont la malveillance a fait
tant de bruit n'existe point. S'il est arrivé que des Israélites
fussent inquiétés, ce sont là des faits isolés, dont mon gouvernement
n'entend pas assumer la responsabilité. Je tiendrai toujours à
l'honneur de faire respecter la liberté religieuse et je veillerai
sans cesse à l'exécution des lois qui protégent les Israélites
comme tous les autres Roumains dans leur personne et dans leurs
biens.--Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur le Baronnet, l'assurance de ma
considération très distinguée,
"CHARLES."
"Sir MOSES MONTEFIORE, Bart." "COTROCENI, le 18/30 Août 1867."
_Saturday, August 31st._--Sir Moses attended Divine service in his
drawing-room, the minister of the Spanish and Portuguese community
officiating. At the conclusion, Sir Moses showed the letter of the
Prince to all present, and it caused great satisfaction.
In the course of the day he paid a visit to Mr Green, and in the
evening the Prince's Secretary called, remaining with us nearly two
hours. Speaking to him of the disturbances of last Thursday, and
the threatening attitude of the populace, he said, only a few days
previously two persons had been murdered in the public street in
daylight, and the friends of peace and order on hearing it expressed
great satisfaction that none of our party had hitherto been molested.
We then showed him the letters we had received from persons who gave
their full names and addresses, suggesting even that we should make
enquiries as to the correctness of their statement to the effect that
it was intended, and had been arranged, to make an attack on the life
of Sir Moses; upon which the Prince's Secretary observed, "Threatening
letters of the kind are sometimes sent to the Prince himself, even
pointing out the place where an attack is to be made on him; but His
Highness shows no fear, and proceeds even to the very spot at the hour
named for the attack."
_Sunday, September 1st._--We all went to the Palace to take leave of
the Prince. His Highness repeated to Sir Moses all that he had stated
in his letter, and regretted the unfortunate occurrence which had
taken place in front of his hotel. In the room in which we assembled
before we were conducted to the presence of the Prince, we were told
that when the populace a year or two ago had attacked a Jewish place
of worship, His Highness, from his private purse, paid all the damage
done. His Highness expressed himself most graciously to Sir Moses, and
the latter reiterated his gratitude to him in his own name and in that
of the Board of Deputies of the London Committee of British Jews for
the gracious reception His Highness had accorded him and the gentlemen
who accompanied him on his Mission.
On leaving the Palace Sir Moses called on the Consuls, all of whom
evinced great satisfaction with the Prince's letter, and returned home
to indite a letter to Mr Green, of which the following is a copy:--
"BUCHAREST, _30th August 1867_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--It is with sincere satisfaction I beg to hand you
enclosed a copy of the reply I have had the honour to receive from
His Serene Highness Prince Charles to my petition of the 27th
instant in reference to my Mission to this country on behalf of my
co-religionists.
"May I now beg the favour of you to communicate its contents to Lord
Stanley, with my grateful thanks to his Lordship and Her Majesty's
Government for the powerful aid they so kindly granted me?
"As the object of coming to this country was not to make enquiry
regarding past unfortunate events, but to obtain for my brethren
dwelling in Roumania security for the future, and fully relying
on the honoured words of His Serene Highness Prince Charles, 'Les
Israélites sont l'objet de toute ma sollicitude et de toute celle
de mon Gouvernement,' ... 'je tiendrai toujours à l'honneur de
faire respecter la liberté religieuse et je veillerai sans cesse a
l'exécution des lois qui protègent les Israelites comme tous les
autres Roumains dans leur personne et dans leur biens,' I consider
my object happily accomplished, and feel confident that his Lordship
will be pleased with the result.
"I deeply regret that the state of my health, with other
considerations, prevents my going to see my co-religionists at Jassy,
otherwise I would at once have proceeded to that city.
"Allow me to take this opportunity to tender you my heartfelt thanks
for your valuable advice and assistance which have so materially
contributed to the satisfactory issue of my humble labours in the
cause of humanity.--Believe me, my dear Sir, with great esteem, yours
very faithfully."
Sir Moses informed the Board of Deputies in London by telegram of all
that had occurred. Subsequently he paid visits to the representatives
of the Hebrew community at Bucharest in order to ascertain what
foundation there was for the pretended dread expressed by the
editor of the _Natinuea_ that Bucharest would be converted into a
second Jerusalem. He also inquired about the Synagogues, charitable
institutions, and schools. He was told that they had a large number
of places of worship, colleges for Hebrew and theological subjects,
hospitals and societies for the sick, loan societies for the poor,
irrespective of creed, societies for providing shelter for travellers
and fuel and clothing for the poor, and a large number of schools for
boys and girls, rich and poor.
"To a person unacquainted with the spirit which pervades Jewish
institutions," he says, "the expression of dread that 'Bucharest'
might be converted into 'a second Jerusalem' in the face of so
considerable a number of houses of prayer, colleges, and charitable
institutions, cannot be a matter of surprise; but he who knows the
principles--heavenly principles revealed on Sinai which breathed
the 'breath of life' into every act of benevolence performed, into
every sentiment of truth expressed in institutions similar to those I
have now seen, and of which you have given me the particulars--would
entertain no such feeling of uneasiness. On the contrary, he would
rejoice if, in the sense of peace, loyalty, and humanity in general,
Bucharest were to make itself deserving, in the language of the
non-Roumanian visitors, of the appellation of 'a second Jerusalem,' and
the reason of it is obvious: the more Synagogues, the more prayers are
offered up for the preservation of the life of the reigning monarch
and the prosperity of the country; the more colleges for religious
instruction, the more efficient the promulgation of the law of God:
'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' (Lev. xix. 18); the more
charitable institutions, the more aid, comfort, and consolation for the
poor and suffering. 'Jerusalem' is the emblem of peace, as the word
'Shalom' indicates, and Bucharest, nay, the whole country under the
sway of His Serene Highness, the reigning Prince, would become renowned
as an abode of peace for all his loyal subjects, without distinction of
creed or nationality."
The street was now thronged with thousands of his co-religionists, and
many houses presented the appearance of an impromptu illumination.
[Footnote 7: Under date of August the 6th, 1867, he addressed him
as follows:--
TRES VÉNÉRABLE BARONNET,--J'ai pris la liberté de vous adresser
aujourd'hui le telegramme suivant:
"Informé de votre projet de venir ici, je vous prie d'arrêter votre
depart jusqu'à reception de ma lettre de ce jour," et je m'empresse
de porter à votre connaisance les raisons pour lesquelles j'ai
pensé devoir arrêter votre voyage.
1º. Et tout d'abord pour ne point vous soumettre, à votre age, que
le bon Dieu vous prolonge pour bien d'années encore, aux fatigues
d'un pareil voyage.
2º. Pour ne-point blesser l'amour propre et la subtibilité de notre
Prince, de notre gouvernement et de la population roumaine.
Le Prince autant que ses Ministres nous font toutes les promesses
pour le bien de nos correligionaires.
Quand aux persécutions dont nos frères furent victimes, il nous
reste à ésperer qu'elles ne se représenteront de plus, vu que les
appuis de nos frères à Paris, Londres, et Vienne n'ont pas manqué
de produire par les journeaux l'effet desiré.
Notre opinion est donc de ne point vous déranger pour venir dans
nos contrées.
Veuillez très-respectable Baronnet continuer à nous aider de loin
et d'accord avec le très-honorable Monsieur Crémieux; ce serait
beaucoup mieux, nous le pensons, pour notre cause.
Voici l'humble opinion du Comité de l'Alliance Israélite d'ici et
de votre devoué que a l'honneur, très vénérable philantrope, de
vous presenter ses civilités les plus respectueuses.
Le Président du Comité de l'Alliance Israélite de Bucarest.
A. HALFON.]