The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-11
a U s s I a..
Baron D'Offenberg's Career
in Roumania.
Reports Of His Misunderstanding Not True-Alli-
ances in General-The ustrian-Rus-
neutrality-suspicious. Alliance
in Particular, and why There
Ia So Many of It."

ST PETERSBURG. April 2, 1872.
lsee that very curious and absurd letter about
Baron d'Onenberg, the new Russian Minister. has
been going the rounds OF the American press. Itis
from the Berlin correspondent of the Cincinnati
Voikso'oN, ana 1t warns American statesmen to be-
ware OF Baron dOncnberg, giving. AZ a
reason, that he is slippery unscrupulous.
cunning and skiiful diplomat second and
improved edition OF Catacazy, in Short The cor
respondent then goes ON to quote a letter from
some other correspondent at Bucharest, who as
scrts that Baron d'Olenberg's career in Roumania
was one Of intrigue and mischief making-that he
chosen by GOrtschakOr for this post on account
of his extraordinary skill in this branch of diplo-
macy, and that he acquitted himself of the arduOus
task assigned him with wonderful tact and success
lie says that d'Ofenburg stirred up Moldavia to
rise against Bucharest, excited the hostility of the
boyars and recognized the red REPUBLICAN, party,
which, he aflrms, had previously overthrow Couza.
He asserts that Gortschakotf opposed the formation
and consolidation Of an almost independent State
with 100000 inhabitants, on the mouths OF the
Danube, and the election of H0henzollern as
Prince of Roumania, which had been the
WORK OF NAPOLEON m;
and that when he failed in his opposition to this
project he sent dOifenberg to stir up discord and
he further accuses the latter of having been the
writer of the letter in question is evidently very
good German-as good as Schurz may be; but
Americans may not choose to be guided by his say
ings. There many misstatemcnts, not to
call them by harshcr name. contained in his
letter, ana lie shows such an ignorance OF ROuma-
MAN history, that am led to suspect that he is not
nor never was at Bucharest. In the FIST place
Moldavia never rose against Bucharest, and Prince
COuza, whose government was the most liberal and
progressive Roumania ever had, was not over
thrown, but supported, by the red republican party.
,Ntt.
who allowed the peasants to become pro-
prietors OF the soil, and who nnugurated
variety OF other progressive reforms, which
would in time have made ROumanla civilized
country, and it was these liberal measures which
caused the arstocracy, or boyars to unite against
him. and which led in the end to his downfall.
Baron d'Ofenberg was not sent to Bucharest upon
the accession OF Prince Charles but ten years before
his canddature was ever Thought Of The asser-
ton that Napoleon III. was Instrumental in having
a HOhenZollern chosen as Prince Of Roumania when
he declared war against Prussia to prevent HO-
pleasant foOling on the part OF the intelligent cor
respondent Of the VOlfsbidU AS TO the Russian
Minister having been the prime mover in the Rou-
manian Railroad difficulty, when we remember that
the whole trouble was caused by two very good
Germans, Julius Ambron and the famous
'.EIsENBUHNKoNIG" DU srRAsBoURG WHO CHEATED
the Roumanian government out OF about thirty
million dollars The assertion, coming from Ger
man, that Baron d'Onenberg, who was in no way
connected with it, was the cause Of the difficulty,
is, to say the least of it, rather cheeky.
The truth is that Baron dOnenberg, who has been
about fifteen years in Roumana, was, perhaps, the
most popular member OF the diplomatic corps there,
and all the Roumanan papers-and their name is Le-
giOn-spOke OF him upon his departure in terms OF
the highest praise. He Is not known in the dplo-
matte world as a cunning, skifu, INSCRIPTIONS
diplomat, but, on the contrary, he is considered
plain, Straightforward. OutspOken man. with little
tor these qualities and his well known admiration
for American institutions that he was chosen to re-
place Catacazy. The writer of the letter above re-
ferred to asserts that
GoRTsCnAKoFF HAS ABANDONED HIS PROJECT
with regard to ROumania. ! do not think this Is
true. 1t has always been the intention OF the Rus
sian government to recover the strip OF territory
bordering on ROumania, taken from them during
the Crimean war, and their preparations the
Black Sea and the immense ornaments they are
making do not indicate that they have abandoned
that project. The truth is that this letter, coming
IA 1t does from Germany, gives some color OF prob
ability to report circulated here that the
GERMAN CABINET
Is using its utmost endeavors to prevent recon-
Whether there be any foundation for the report.
or whether 1t Is only one ofthose rum0rs that come
into existence nobody knows how and float about
through the air as it were, without any known
cause, it shows at least the feelings of
mstrust with which Sa1;d, Germany Is regarded
Bismarck to play fast and loose with Russia as he
has done with his other allies There never was
ment circles, and even there 1t seems feelings of
dstrust are insidiously creeping in and suspicious
OF the good faith OF the German Cabinet beginning
to be entertained,
The reason Of this probably is that Germany has
just now too many friends too many allies, for her
professions of friendship towards all to be serious
First, we have the meeting OF the EmperOrs OF
Austria and Germany at Gastein last summer, and
and lasting alliance for peace purposes, OF course,
that had been made with their enemies OF only five
years before. Then Prince Frederick Charles came
to st. Petersburg and Hgain there were rejoicings
among the German newspapers and assurances Of
their profound love and esteem for Russia. and
ANOTHER ALLIANCE
was formed with the view OF keeping the peace, OF
course with the Car Prince Frederick Charles
went to Italy, and Immediately we have German
Italian alliance manufactured by the German press
upon the instant, over which there are more re-
jOicings and more rubbing OF hands. Prince
Frederick Charles went to Tunis, and some OF the
German papers are beginning to talk Of treaty
with the Bey, by which
THE FRENCH ARE TO BE ORIGINATED IN ALGIERs.
negotiate a treaty with that mighty Kingdom, and
we shall certainly hear of him at Constantinope en-
gagged In the same business.
/ had almost forgotten the latest one, known as
the Italian GermanSpaniSh alliance-fOr there have
been so many that it is almost impossible to keep
diplomacy OF the German press
In hearing this Gcrman-Austrian-R Russian Ital-
ian-Spanish-I had almost said Observation-Disclosures
talked about with so much gravity one cannot help
thinking Of poor Artemus Wards lecture on Brig
ham Young's mOther-in-law, and how there came to
morous in its way But, seriously, are they not
taxing credulity too ar9 Arc these r,mors
OF alliances started by the German newspapers to
be taken as an evidence Of what they wish and
think necessary to protect themselves against
future projects Of French vengeance, and do the
Germans really hope to make us believe they are
uniting the whole Of Europe in q league against
poor, beaten, Inundated Franceg 1t is quite true
that Germans in general, and Prussians in particu-
lar, have very moderate ideas az to the intelligence
OF people not belonging to that favored race and
very exalted ideas of their own superior
wisdom; but | would submit 1t to them
with all due modesty II they are
not asking US to believe too much and
II they are not undertaking intelligence
s0mewhatS If they would be moderate In arrang-
ing their alliances we might believe in them; but II
things go at this rate We shall not be surprised
to hear OF Prince Frederick Charles negotiating
with the HottentOts OF South Africa, or even en-
tering into compact with the Man In the Moon.
Alliances, to be effective should, like other good
things, be INDUCED In moderately but the Ger
mans, it would seem, are not satisfied with mod
crate and reasonable number they must needs
unite the whole OF Europe against their late enemy.
IL Is
A SIGNIFICANT FACT,
and one which speaks volumes, In view OF the i'm
mense military preparations M. Theirs is making,
that they should think 1t necessary to thus seek
allies in the four quarters OF the globe, and that
they should try to make us believe IL possible to