Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1994. [Vol. 2.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 22)
STUDIES - Tamás Magyarics: The (Re) creation of the Relations between the US and the Successor States in Central Europe after the First World War
discussing it during the fall session. 5 8 Actually, it was not only the Americans who were affected by the impending bill, but the British, the French, the Belgians, and the Dutch, too. Each of these countries formally protested at the Rumanian authorities at the beginning of June 1924—in vain. Jay once again tried to influence Duca maintaining in his letter dated June 6, 1924 that though they were not desirous of "intervening in matters of Rumanian domestic legislation", it was necessary for him to point out "in a friendly spirit certain articles of the proposed law which seem to furnish grounds for just concern." 5 0 The Rumanians remained adamant and emphasized once again that the proposed bill was not threatening the security of the foreign investments and the companies affected by the law would be compensated in due course. Parliament passed the mining bill at the end of June and only the King's signature was needed for it to come into force. Now, it turned out that it was not only about Standard Oil. "This law ... is only the latest of a series of measures which the Rumanian government has taken during the past two years tending to give the impression that Rumania is not willing to treat American interests as those interests might naturally expect to be treated by Rumanian authorities...", lamented Hughes in his telegram sent to Jay on July 3, 1924. 6 0 The allusion to the "failure" of the Rumanians is that they had not given consideration to the claims of Baldwin Locomotive, International Harvester, and other companies. In fact, the American resentment —together with that of the British, French, Belgians, and the Dutch —manifested itself in more "effective" ways than in mere letters of protest. Three days after the Hughes-telegram, Jay reported from Bucharest with some relief that "the increasing weakness of its credits abroad, as indicated by the recent fall of exchange, seems to have impressed the Rumanian Government, and the Minister of Commerce has tried to allay the fears of the foreign oil interests by informing them that the Rumanian authorities will not be unreasonable in enforcing the mining laws 5 8 Papers, 1924, Vol. 2, 604. 871.6363/163: Telegram on May 21, 1924 . 5 9 See jay's 871.6363/163: Telegram to Hughes, ibid., 605. 6 0 Ibid., 608. 91
