The sun., 1903-07-02
RUSSIA WON'T RECEIVE 1T.
WARNING To PRESIDENT NOT TO
SEND JEWS PETITION,
lntlmatiOn That Such Action Would 1m-
peril the Friendly Relations OF tho
Two COuntries--The Presidents Plan
Opposed by Ills Omiclal Advisers.

Opposed by Ills Official Advisers.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The Russian
Government must categorically refuse to
receive from any Power any petition,
to its internal policy"
This is the concluding paragraph Of a
statement given out to-day by the highest
source Of authority in the matter in this
country. Its significance is very deep.
1t is direct warning to President Roose-
welt not to carry out his expressed inten-
tion to send to the Car the petition from
Jewish organizations in the United States
for the betterment Of the condition Of their
co-religionsts in Russia
1t means that the friendly relations which
have existed for so many years between
Russia and the United States will become
strained should the President persist in his
purpose,
The statement in which this significant
warning occurs was called forth by report
that Russia had offered an explanation Of
the kishineff massacre to this country
The rest of the statement reads as follows.
The Russian Government most positively
l
official explanation to the American Gov
ernment, either through the Russian Em-
bassy at Washington or the American En-
bassy at st. Petersburg, regarding the
kishineT incident. or that it has ever been
addressed by the American Government
upon the subject"
Taken in connection with the announce
ment that the Russian Government will
not receive the Jewish petition, the para
graph quoted above means that Russia
does not feel called upon to offer TO the
United States any explanation of an affair
that occurred within its territorial limits,
in which no other than Russian subjects
were concerned.
What effect the Russian warning will
have upon President Roosevelts announced
purpose 10 forward the petition from Amer
lean Jews cannot be determined here in
the absence of the President and Secretary
Hay, Mr., Hay is at Newport, and il is
expected that he will go to Oyster Bay to
sec the President before returning to Wash
ington, about July r.
The Presidents decision TO send the
petition caused great surprise, even to his
immediate official advisers, who had shown
that they regarded such a course as ex-
ceedingly unwise, not only on account OF
the danger it would bring to continuance
of the long-standing cordial relations be-
tween the two Governments, but for the
reason that it would establish a precedent
for foreign medding in the domestic affairs
of the United States.
II has been contended in Washington
by officials Of the highest standing that
should the President forwards the Jewish
petition to the Czar there could he TO OBJ
lection by the United States Government
to receiving protests from Governments
of Europe against the lynching OF negroes
In this country, something that heretofore
no Federal Administration would have
tolerated for an instant
At the State Department tonight it was
ste ted by high official, in the absence
of Secretary Hay. that the delay in for
warding the petition Of the American citi-
zens Of Jewish faith as to the il-treatment
of their corelgionists in Russia was due
solely to the delay in furnishing tho address
to the State Department by the petitioners.
The State Department would, Of course,
pay no heed to any statement purporting
to emanate from the Russian Government
unless such statement were made officially
In some form or other to our Government.
The State Department has been scrupu-
lously careful to act only in accordance
with all the requirements of official pro-
priety, but within the limits thus laid down
1t will certainly not hesitate 10 give express
sion 70 the deep sympathy felt not only
by the Administration, but by all the Ameri-
can people for the unfortunate Jews who
have been the victims in the recent appall-
ing massacres and outrages.
1t was pointed out by another official,
who disclaimed any purpose to sp eak 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
Q statement to the American people at
che very time when by methods which
are certainly the reverse of friendly to tho
United States it has sought TO make China
Join in breaking the plghted 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.
PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE UNCHANGED.
OYSTER BAY, July lit is understood
here that the State Department at Wash
ington has prepared statement on the atti-
tude taken by Russia in regard to the Jews
protest. The President declines TO discuss
the matter, proferring that the attitude
OF the Government should be made known
through the regular channels.
II is understood however, that the Gov
ernments attitude in the matter has not
been changed by the developments Of
to-day.
WON'T SEND PROTEST TO RUSSIA.