The record-union., 1891-05-17
TALK OF LONDON.
THE JEWISH QUESTION BECOMING
MORE ACUTE.
Englfshmen Much Concerned as to
Whether the American Copyright
Law VIII Go Into Effect in July.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

Special to the SUNDAY UNION.
New YORK. May 16.-Smalley, in his
letter to the Tribune from London, says:
Europe in general is preparing for a
financial squall, and the Bank of Eng
land has raised its rate to five per cent.
Not little of the disturbance on the
European bourses comes from Russia S
large balances held on demand.
The Jew question becomes daily more
acute. The expulsions proceed in Rus
sia, in spite of all assurances to the con-
trary, and Corfu has suddenly attracted
attention, and is the scene of disorder
and persecution. There have been riots
and murders, with what looks like the
cOnnivance of the authorities. Strong
European pressure had to be brought to
bear on the Greek Government before it
would do its duty. Ships of war of vari-
Gus nations are arriving. Russia, of
course, holds aloof. She could hardly
persecute in Moscow and protest in
Corfu.
The number Of Jews hunted out of this
half -barbarouS MuscOvite kingdom ex-
ceeds $4,000 in its two chief cities. So
powerful are the Jews throughout Eu-
rope that Russia will be surely made to
eXpiate her cruelty. Public opinion is
strongly against her. Her new loan,
nominally postponed, is really rejected,
her prosperity is threatened, her financial
future looks dark, but of the lenity or
penitence on the part of her ruler there is
no sign.
The diplomatic world does not under
stand why the United States Government
keeps its Minister on the banks of the
Iiber after not merely the recall of Baron
Faya, but after the Italian Secretary of
Legation in Washington has been di-
rected in public dispatch to confine
himself strictly to the transaction of IN
dispensable routine business; that is
equivalent to saying that Italy has
broken off, SO for as she can, diplomatic
intercourse with America, but that Amer
lea persists in keeping up the diplomatic
intercourse with Italy.
We have been favored with verbatim
report by cable of one portion Of CIeve-
lands speech to the Cleveland Demo-
cratic Association Of Buffalo. It has been
read here with joy. Good free-traders.
good anti -Republicans, good anti-Ameri-
cans, all find in this speech something to
delight them. So does that large section
Of the English public which likes the
tinkllng rhetoric, mixed metaphors and
classic style Of the Jefferson Brick.
The Lord Monkswell copyright bill.
which he induced the Lords to read a
second time, is bill to reduce the copy
right chaos to order. There are now in
force eighteen Acts of Parliament, plus
sundry ill-defined common law rights.
Among the many doubtful questions
in the English copyright law is the ques-
ton whether an American, in order to
obtain an English copyright, need be on
English soil at the time of publication
The best legal opinion is Sir Frederick
Pollock's who says that he need not be.
Lord Monkswell urges that there is no
instance III which a copyright has been
deemed or held invalid for want of resi-
dence. MonkSwell therefore trusts ''that
the President may deem that under the
present law the rights of American citi-
2ens are sufficiently safeguarded, and will
therefore give his certificate, as the Act
requires, that the English law satisfies
that reciprocity clause"
This touching appeal deserves the best
attention OF the Presidents advisers. The
question is not entirely one of law, but of
law and fact mixed. Although legal
opinion is divided on the purely legal
point, the great preponderence is in favor
OF MonkswelPs contention. Unless,
therefore, some case can be cited in which
an English copyright has been refused to
an American author for non-residence, it
may well be held that English reciprocity
is, If not technically complete, practically
sufficient.
The Act authorizes the issue of Presi-
dents proclamation when he is satisfied
that foreign State grants an American
copyright ION substantially the same ba-
sis as its own citizens" This England
undoubtedly does.
English authors are looking eagerly to
July. Many books ready for publication
are advertised as held over till July to
obtain an American copyright. Our posi-
ton will not be a graceful one if the Ex-
ecutive withholds, on technical grounds,
what Congress has granted on consider
ations of morality and public advantage.
In word, it will be nothing less than
scandal should the American Copyright
Act fail to come into force, with reference
to England, next July.