Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-23
TO COERCE ROUMAN|A
The Only Way to Aid the
Jews.
LITTLE HOPE OF. THIS
OBSTACLES IN WAY OF CONCERT
OF ACTION.
Official Of the British Foreign Office
Points Out the Difficulties
Involved.

LONDON, September 23.-"Nothing that
will be of any permanent good can result
from Secretary Hays note to the powers
on Roumania's treatment of Jews unless
somebody is willing to crush Roumania,
and no power seems anxious to take on
that task"
The foregoing quotation from the utter
ances Of an experienced British official reps
resents the real opinion of the British for.
eign office on the subject of the negotiations
between America and Europe. and repre-
sents it with a terse neutrality-suspicious.
which is not likely to figure in the guarded,
diplomatic replies which Mr. Hays note
will eventually produce.
The Associated Press is able to say that
Great Britain's backing up of the United
States in the Roumanian matter has only
produced evidence that the signatories Of
the Berlin treaty absolutely refuse to take
other than merely sentimental action to-
wards alleviating the persecution of the
Jews. The exchange of views regarding the
American note solicited by Great Britain
has progressed sufficiently to convince the
foreign office here that nothing material is
likely to result. To achieve more than
promises from Roumania it Is believed in
Downing street. and apparently in the for
eign offices of the other capitals interested.
that nothing short Of a combined display
of force would be necessary.
Obstacles in the Way
Insurmountable obstacles appear to rem
der such step impossible Intra- European
jealousies and the normally explosive con-
dition Of the Balkans in themselves are
sufficiently powerful factors to induce a
policy of united inaction when a question Of
armed Intervention is involved
According to official statements the Brit
ich raity ,fFinz L,r
dication of willingness on the part of sew
eral continental governments to seize the
opportunity of conveying to the United
States government the intimation that it is
interfering in matters which do not con-
Germ it, as various semi-official newspapers
of the European capitals have put 1t.
United States Ambassador Choate has
broken up his holiday in Scotland and re-
turned to London today. He is likely to
spend the next few days in dealing with
the Reumanian matter. The information
CLEANED from British diplomats or part Of
1t would be unofficially communicated to
Mr.. Choate for transmission to Washing
ton.
The hopelessness privately entertained by
the British foreign office of effecting q
change of heart on the part of the Rou-
manian government will not be allowed to
interfere with the external course of the
negotiations and there is still reason to be-
lieve that Mr.. Hays protest may result in
a formal joint note of the Berlin signatories
demanding better treatment of the Jews.
Regarding that point, however, nothing is
definitely settled but If 1t is done it will be
more In a spirit of acquiescence with the
humane sentiments expressed In Mr.. Hays
appeal than to any belief that good will be
accomplished.
Statement of an Official.
A foreign office official said to a repre-
sentative Of the Associated Press:
"Roumania will have difficulty in
q at g
ported by the only thing she is afraid OF.
namely, superior armies. Her reply might
be either evasive semi-defiant, according
to the degree of secret support she received
from the other European powers. Academ-
ically as an international precedent,
such a joint note might be Of some use.
but beyond focusing public attention on
Roumanias treatment of Jews and thereby
creating certain temporary alienation.
fear that it's practical effect may be NIL.
However, we can only try
In the event of the other European pow
ers refusing to take joint action Great
Britain is quite unlikely to take any in
dependent course. The British note COM
mits her to nothing except friendly interest
in Mr.. Hays suggestion and a desire to
elicit the opinions of the other sigma tories.
A. curious feature of the negotiations Is
that the United States embassy officials
were quite ignorant of Great Britain's
tion in connection with Mr.. Hays note
The latter was communicated to LORD
Lansdowne, the foreign secretary, through
Mr.. Choate, but the ambassador was not
notified that Great Britain had dispatched
a note to the signatores of the Berlin
treaty and only learned privately from
Berlin that such was the case
At the United States embassy hopeful
feeling prevails that something more than
a mere exchange of condolences over in
humanity may result from the United
States plea for the Roumanian Jews.