Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18
ISRAELITES IN SSIA
Facts From Diplomatic Correspondence
Had Upon the Subject
Ministcr White Comments on the Com
plicatiOn of the Laws I'm Russia
us to Their Rights.

Tho diplomatic correspondence between
Russia and the United States for last year,
just published, relates largely to the con-
dition of the Israelites in Russia, and their
immigration to the United States. This be-
gan in May, 1898, when Secretary Gresham
telegraphed Minister White as to the edict
against Jews, and which, 1t was supposed,
would result in large emigration of that
people to the United States. Minister
White, in reply, stated that there was a
tendency to greater rigor on the part of
the government in its treatment of the
Jews. AS to the laws or orders regarding
this people, he said
1.-The treatment of the Israelites, whether
good or evil, is not based entirely upon
any one ukaSe or statute; there are said
to be in the vast jungle Of the laws of
this empire more than one thousand de-
crees and statutes relating to them, besides
innumerable circulars, open or secret, reg
ulations. restrictions, extensions and tenn
porary arrangements, general, special and
local, forming such tangled growth that
probably no human being can say what the
law. as a whole, is-least of all can Jew
in any province have any certain knowl-
edge of his rights"
Condition of the Jews In Russia.
He discusses at some length the condi-
ton of the Jews in Russia, and the con-
tempt in which they are held by all classes
of Russians. Very small opportunities are
afforded for education Of Jews, and even
where they form the greater bulk OF popu-
lation, only third are allowed to hold
municipal offices. He says the religious
restrictions are most illogical and incom-
prehensible. The Russians charge the Jews
with fanaticism, but Mr.. White says they
cannot be rendered less SO by the treat
ment they receive.
The Jews were more kindly treated by
Alexander II, and Mr.. White attributes the
reaction against them to the assassination
of that monarch. He closes by saying that
the policy of Russia is driving the Jews
out Of the country, many of whom are
destined to come to the United States.
After this dispatch Mr.. Gresham writes
to Mr. Webb, secretary Of the legation.
saying:
THE continued enforcement of such harsh
measures, necessarily forcing upon us large
numbers of degraded and undesirable per-
sons, who must, in great measure, be sup
ported, cannot be regarded as consistent
with the friendship which the Russian gov
ernment has long professed for the United
States.'
Date of Final Expulsion.
Some further correspondence ensued. and
in January Mr.. Webb informed Secretary
Gresham that the final expulsion of the
Jews from the province of st. Petersburg
was extended until June, 1895. Mr.. White
soon after informed the department the
Russian government absolutely denied that
it was assisting Jewish emigrants to the
United States. Another letter quotes from
a German paper, saying that it was deter
mined to send the best Jewish emigrants
to the Argentine Republic and the helpless
were to be assisted to the United States.
Another question raised was the right of
naturalized citizen of the United States
to relnquish his citizenship and become a
Russian citizen. Mr.. Gresham says this
right is unquestioned.
A diplomatic question was raised over
Joseph Wingfield, an American citizen of
African descent, fourteen years old, who
was going to ST. Petersburg a servant
| of resident of that city. He was stopped
| at the frontier, but through the interven-
| ton of Mr.. White was allowed to proceed,
| but the Russian government refuses to al
| low him to remain unless he has pass
| port. The objections to issuing him pass
| port was not that he was under age but
| that he went to st. Petersburg with the in
| tention of remaining five years. Assistant
/ Secretary Uhl said that a passport might
| issue to a minor upon satisfactory proof
| that he intended to return to the United
| States before obtaining his majority.