The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-02
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Foster Defines the Governments
Attitude.
A WARNING To THOSE IN EUROPE
Ii is Not Desired That Destitute Russian Jews
Seek Refuge in This Country-What
Humanity Dictates.

| WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Secretary Foster
to-day addressed a letter to SimonWolf
and Lewis Abraham, president, and Sec
rotary, respectively of the Union OF
American Hebrew congregations, in refer
ence to the overtures made to the depart
ment for the release from detention OF the
Russian Hebrew emigrants held at New
York and Boston as assisted eDigrants''
whose landing is forbidden by law. In
their letter to the secretary Messrs. Wolf
and Abraham stated the Hebrew societies
OF the United States, while they deplored
this kind of immigration and had advised
their brethren in foreign countries to pre-
vent it, were willing to stand the expense
of carrying the immigrants TO give the
government a satisfactory bond, guarantee
ing that none of these refugees should be-
come public charge and urge that their
practically enforced immigration is
within the meaning of our laws.
In his answer to their communication,
Secretary Foster says, in part: 81 fully
concur in your estimate of the magnitude
OF the present calamity which has befalIen
so many of your race as well as in your
hope that the early mitigation or cessation
OF the current measures OF expulsion may
render unnecessary any general migration
OF Russian Hebrews to America or else
where. Unquesuonably the great and
sudden influx of destitute aliens Of any
race would be great misfortune to any
country, and American Hebrews act patri-
otically and humanely when they advise
Jewish refugees against coming hlther,
but at the same time endeavor TO
render self-suppOrting those who finally
come. Obviously the support OF numbers
OF independent persons is tax upon the
resources of the country, even though paid
as plainly industrial conditions might
be seriously disturbed by the sud
den arrival and enforced compe-
tition OF a multitude of needy people.
Hence it is important TO the last degree
that the volume of this expected refugee
immigration be not excessive or threaten
ing, and that with entire certainty it
tributed so as TO supply real want
in scattered communities and interfere
as little as possible with existing and
normal industrial conditions. The ap-
parent scope and thoroughness OF your
plans for securing this immediate and wide
distribution OF expected refugees are most
gratifying, and upon the success OF your
associates in carrying out thess plans will
largely depend the possibility of the gov
eminent meeting your views. In other re-
spects, while the immigration laws of the
United States must aud will be enforced, 1
agree with you that those laws were
never enacted in derogation Of the plsinest
requirements of humanity, and no worthy
immigrant who in all other respects
meets the demands of our statutes should
be excluded from the country because,
through the actions OF others, he, for
time, being homeless and without property.
II shall rely upon your voluntary assur-
ance that you will actively urge upon your
brethren in Europe the attitude of our
laws toward unassisted immigration. /
also beg TO remind you that any tendency
abroad TO defect toward this country the
movement of destitute refugees or to slim
ulate their migration hither would be dis
tinctly hostile to the spirit manifested in
your letter and TO the spirit in which the
government Of the United States desires to
treat this difficult and delicate problem"