Evening journal., 1896-07-13
TROUBLE WITH RUSSIA
Complications In Our Relations
With the Muscovites.
MINIgTER BREoKINRIDGE,s wORK.


jects to the Discrimination Against
Americana Of Jewish Faith Secretary
oiney Active.
WASHINGTON, July i8--The greater por-
lion of the lahors Of SIr. Breckinridge,
United Statcs minister to Russia during
the past year, as revealed by the published
foreign relations Of the United states,
seems to have followed an instruction from
tho state department to protest against
the practice Of Russian consuls in the
United States of refusing to wise passports
Of American citizens going.to Russia II
they happened to bo of the jewish faith.
Mr. Breckenridge worked hard 10 CON
vince tho Russian government that'this
practice amounted TO the establishmentot
an unconstitutional religious test In the
United States, but on each occnsion he
was met by adroit responses thnt wero dif-
fcult to answer, and at the point where
the publication closes he was obliged to
bluntly inform the Russian government
that the United States could not 40.
quiesce in the operation Of such foreign
tribunals in the United states
Mr. Brockinridge's presentation OF his
case was formally approved by Secretary
Olney
Another subject that promises TO give
some trouble IN the futura engrossed much
Of the time and attontiUn OF the state DO
partment and Of Minister Breckinrldgo
during the year 1t was the absolute IN
sistence of the Russian goyernnept upon
its right to punish any Russian who falls
into its power after becoming citizen o.
the United States or any Other country.
such claims have been made for years
past but 10 positive issue between the
two countries was made until the arrest
in Russia last year of Anton Yablkowski,
"a naturalizcd American citizen, who en-
tored Russia with his American passport
all properly visod, as shown by the corre-
spondence which ensued Turkey and
Russia are the only countries which, deny
ing the right of their oitizens to e5patrlate
themselves, assert right to punish them
for so doing, and Turkey goes farther than
to eject the offender from the conGtry.
The correspondence between the two GOV
ornments on this subject was not only vol
luminous, but so spirited and asscrtive In
places as to lead Minister Breckinridge 60
complain to Secretary Olney that Prince
Lobanow's note to him had been lacking
in courtesy. As the matter stands nt the
end of the correspondence so far published,
the Russian government rests firmly upon
its right TO punish Russians who become
United States citizens If they return to
Russia.
Olney Remonstrateo.
Secretary Olney is recorded as remon.
strating against the assumption of this
attitude by tho Russian government and
as earnestly pressing for It's settlement by
/ the negotiation OF a naturalization treaty.
/ Meanwhile Mr.. Brcckinridge prudently
suggests that proper warning be given e
/ Russians naturalized In the United States
TO keep away from Russia.
Not often does the diplomatic CORE
| spondence OF iho United States treat of
subject of suoh dramatic nature as th
Renton case, which forms the subject Of
long chapter in the second volume Of th
forthcoming foreign relations.
Renton was an American who settled
with his wife and niece on q fine planta
I tion on Brewers lagoon, Honduras III
was murdered, his property destroyed aut
/ his wife wounded and, with her niece
1 treated with great cruelty and driven from
the country. The perpetrators Of thes,
crimes were a picturesque crowd Of border
rufians, q mixture Of Che of1scourings ol
l all nations who under the name Of the
/ Brewers Lagoon Wood and Produce com
/ pany, lived next TO Renton place Th,
story Of the murder is told in the evidence
/ collected by CoThmander Davis, who wat
! sent 90 the place with the United State.
warship Montgomery to unearth the crime
/ It shows that tho local authorities wor'
corrupted and even the United States con
sular agent at Truxillo was culpable. Thl
department. of state preferred a claim IL
Mrs. Renton's behalf of s37 500 for prop
erty destroyed, and through its enorgeti
action the Honduran government was in
duoed to arrest all of the murdor6rs VIII
could be captured and hold them for trial
which was the status OF the case when th
correspondence closed