Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-03


Country General Capital News and
Brevities.
Jetytsb Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-The correspondence
respecting the condition of the Israelites in
Russia, sent to congress tc.day,is very volu-
minous, and includes all on the subject during
the past ten years. The last letter written ty
the secretary of state in this regard is as
follows:
Department OF State. Washington. D. O.,
April Is, 1882 Wickham Hoffman, ESQ :,
ETC., etc st. Petersburg-Sir: Prejudice Of
race and creed having, in our day. given way
to claims of our common humanity, the PEG.
pie of the United States have heard, with
great regret, the stories of the suferipgs OF
the Jews in Russia. It may be the accounts
in newspapers are exaggerated and some may
be true, some private reports. maktng, now.
ever, due allowance for misrepresentation, 1t
cannot be doubted that much has been done
which humane aud Just persons must con-
denim.
The president, of course. feels that the
government of the emperor should not be
held morally responsible Tor the acts which
1t considers wrong, but which 1t may be
powerless to prevent. II that is true of this
case, 1t would be worse than useless for me to
direct you, IS the representative of the United
statsa, to give official expression to the feel.
Ing which this treatment Of the Jews calls
forth in this country. Should, however, the
attitude OF the Russian government be dlffsr.
ent, and should you be If the opinion that
more vigorous effort might be put forth for
the prevention of this great wrong, you
will, II favorable opportunity Of re,
state, with ali pro yer Difference,
that feeling OF friendship which the United
States en,ertains for Russia prompted That
government TO express the hope that the i'm
perial government will find means to cause
the persecution of these unfortunate fellow
beings to cease. This instruction devolves
a delicate duty npcn you and discretion 10 given
you In It's exc, ution. However much this re.
public may dlsapprove of affairs in other ma
tionslitles, it does not conceive that IL is
the right province Ia obviously and offensive.
ly Intern. dde. If, however, 1t should come
to your knowledge that anv citizens OF the
United States are made victims OF the persecu-
ton, you will feel 1t sour cuty to omit no
effort to ascertain and report the cases to this
department.. / am, Sir, yOnr obedIent servant,
FREDERICK T. FRELlNeHuYsEN.
It appears from the correspondence between
Minister Foster and Secretary Blaine that the
action Of the Russian authorities toward
American citizens is of two kinds.
First-The absolute provision OF residence
in st. Petersburg snd other cities OF the en-
prs OF the ground of the Russian law permit.
ting no native Jew TO live there and that the
treaty between the Cuited States and Russia
gives to our citizens in Russian jurisdiction
no other rights and privileges than those ac-
corded to native Russians.
Second-The permission Of residence and
commerce conditioned on belonging to the
first guild of Russian merchants and taking
out license.
In letter from Secretary Blaine to Minister
Foster, under date of July 90, 1881, the former
says: On q case arising this government
would hold that the treaty lof 1882 conferred
specific rights on all American citizens In the
matter of the disposition Of their personal
property. irrespective of any conditions save
those which the treaty expressly names; that
their actual presence, when necessary to pro.
tect or assert their interests, is absolutely
guaranteed, wherever and for whatever time
it may be needful and that this international
eng ,gament supersedes any municipal rule or
regulation which may interfere with the free
action of such individuals. need hardly en-
large on the point that the government of the
United States concludes its treaties with for.
e'gn states for equal protection to all classes
of American citizens. 1t can make absolute.
~ no discrimination between them, whatever
be their origin or creed. 81 that they abide by
the laws, at home or abroad, it must give
GucLu pfOttcltcu 6uO expect ike pTOtcCbiOn lot
them. Any unfriendly or discriminatory act
against them on the part OF foreign power
with which we are at peace, would call for
our earnest remonstrance, whether treaty
existed or not. 1t is, therefore, source of
unfegned regret to lis when government,
10 which we are allied by so many historical
ties as that of Russia, shows disposition in
regard to dealings with US to take advantage
of technicalities.
In response to this communication, under
date of Oct. S, 1881, Hoffman, secretary of
legation, wrote Secretary Blaine that the
Russian minister of foreign affairs still main
tanned the view that in the treaty of 1882 the
words ION condition OF their submitting to
the laws and ordinances then prevallipg,"
subjected American Jws to The treatment of
native Jews. These views had also bten given
representatives of other foreign powers. The
Russian minister said that as regards the
moral side of the question, he personally
would be glad to see important notifications
made in the laws regarding the condition of
Jews in Russia, but that they had brought
much of the harshness of those laws upon
Themselves.
The presidents message Ia formal, transmit.
ting documents, and makes no com nent OR
recommendation.