Mr. Hay has issued a remarkable Note to the United
States Ambassadors accredited to the Governments who signed the Berlin Treaty, according to which there was to be no dis- crimination against any resident of Roumania on account of religious belief. The United States was not a party to the Treaty, but having failed to persuade Roumania to remedy the evils which have forced so many Jews to emigrate to America, the President feels obliged to appeal to the Powers to compel the observance of the religious exemption. After explaining the purpose of the generous attitude of the United States towards the alien immigrant as being " to benefit him and the country alike, not to afford another State a refuge for its un- desirable elements," and describing the hardships and enforced
degradation of the Roumanian Jews, the Note continues No class is more welcome here when coming equipped in mind and body for citizenship. But this Government cannot be a tacit party to an international wrong. It is constrained to protest against treatment to which the Jews of Roumania are subject, not alone because it has unimpeachable ground to remonstrate against resultant injury to itself, but in the name of humanity." The Berlin correspondent of the Times notes that in Berlin the circular has not met with a very favourable reception, but the Vosauche Zeitung believes it will exert a powerful moral influence, and welcomes its humane sentiments in spite of the novelty of the Secretary of State's action. The remonstrance may not be in keeping with strict diplomatic traditions, but the tone and temper of the document are enough to justify the innovation.
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