Evening star., 1903-07-02
AWAITING PETITION
DELAY OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.
Document is Being Sent About the
Country to Get Representa-
tives' Signatures.

The State Department has authorized the
following statement in regard to the kishl-
neff affair
"At the State Department 1t was stated
by high official, in the absence of Secre-
tary Hay. that the delay in forwarding the
petition of the American citizens of the
Jewish faith as to the ill-treatment Of their
co-religonis in Russia was due solely to
the delay in furnishing the address to the
State Department by the petitioners. The
State Department would. of course. pay no
heed to any statement purpOrting to ema-
nate from the Russian government unless
such statement were made officially in some
form or other to our own government. The
State Department has been scrupulously
careful to act only in accordance with all
the requirements Of official propriety, but
within the limits thus laid down it Will
most certainly not hesitate to give express
sion to the deep sympathy felt not only by
the administration, but by all the Amerl-
can people for the unfortunate Jews who
have been the victims in the recent appall-
ing maSSacreS and outrageS In this con-
nection 1t was pointed out by another Off
cial who disclaimed any purpose to speak
in his official capacity. however. that it
seemed somewhat strange. to say the least,
that the Russian government should choose
this particular method of making a state
ment to the American people at the very
time when by methods which are certainly
the reverse of friendly to the United States
it has sought to make China join in break
ing the plighted faith Of all the powers as
to the open door in Manchuria. and has
endeavored to bar our people from access
to the Manchurian trade"
Will Be Ready in Week.
Acting Secretary Loomis Of the State De-
partment has been notified that the petit
tion in behalf of the Russian Jews will
probably be delivered at the State Depart
ment or at Oyster Bay In about one week.
The document is being sent from one city
to another in order to obtain the signatures
of the representative Hebrews and Ameri-
can publicists in every section of the coun-
try which can be easily reached Without
delay and Immediately upon the receipt OF
the petition by the United States govern
ment 1t will be dispatched to Mr.. Riddle.
United States charge at st. Petersburg. 1t
will be accompanied by note of transmit
tai instructing Mr.. Riddle exactly what dis
position to make of the petition, for there
Is no intention here to place any undue re-
sponsibility Oh the charge in this matter.
The department does not at present ex-
pect to publish that note. so that it's nature
is matter of speculation. the weight OF
opinion being that Mr.. Riddle will be in
structed to inquire of the Russian govern
ment whether it Is willing to receive pc
dton. the nature of which will be plainly
indicated by him. If there Is q negative re-
sponse Mr.. Riddle will so notify the State
Department. and that will probably end the
efforts Of the department in connection
with the petition.
Should the Petition Be Ignored.
The President through Secretary Hay in
formed his Jewish callers that he could not
tell what reception tho petition would meet
with at the hands of the Russian govern
ment. and should the petition fail OF recep-
ton after Mr.. Riddles efforts 1t would abb
solve the President from further pursuit of
the matter.
Meanwhile. and until the petition Is re-
ceived here, there Is nothing more to be
done. it is said. Through the newspapers.
in an unofficial but quite adequate manner.
the governments of the United States and
of Russia have acquainted each other with
their respective attitudes concerning the
Jewish petition, and all that remains Is to
await the working out of the, program.
Count Cassini the Russian ambassador,
accompanied by Mr.. Theodore Hansen, call
ed at the State Department today to pre-
sent the latter as charge during the alb
sence Of the ambassador The count ex-
poets to sail on the Kron Prinz from New
York July I. accompanied by the Countess
Cassini and his personal attendants