The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-18
U;x. x.STAND # OF RUSSIA V - Hay Tells of St. Peters,
 burg Reply. PETITION Is REJECTED
Under No Circumstances Would It Be Considered.
Mir. Levi, of the Jewish Comr- :ttee, in Interview, Says That Good
 Was Accomplished by
 B'Nai B'Rith Movement.

Washington, July H.-Secretary Hay has issued the following statement on the declination of the Russian Government to receive the B'nai B'rith petition: The Russian Government has declined to receive or to consider the petition in relation to the condition of the Jews in Russia, signed by several thousand citi- zens and cabled to St. Petersburg by di- rection of the President.
 At a conference Tuesday. July IA, at Oyster Bay, the President conferred with Messrs. Leon Levy, Simon Wolf and Os- car s. Strauss in regard to the presenta- ton of the petition and decided to send the following dispatch to Mir. Riddle, the American Charge d Affaires in St. Petersburg: Department of State, Washington. July 15, 1903.
 Riddle. St. Petersburg: You are in- instructed to ask an audience of the Min ister of Foreign Affairs and to make to him the following communications
 "Excellency: The Secretary of State in structs me to inform you that the Presi- dent has received from a large number of citizens of the United States of all re- ligious affiliations and occupying the high est positions in both public and private life respectful petition addressed to his majesty, the Emperor, relating to the con- dition of the Jews in Russia, and running as follows:
 The Imperial Petition. ITO His Imperial Majesty. the Empe- TOT of Russia: The cruel outrages per- petrated at Kishinef during Easter of 1903 have excited horror and reproduction throughout the world. Until your ma jesty gave special and personal directions the local authorities failed to maintain order or suppress the rioting.
 "The victims were Jews and the assault fha of ho prejudice.
 "The rioters violated the laws of Russia. "rhe local oficials were derelict in the performance of their duty.
 "The Jews were the victims of indefen- sibie lawlessness. These facts are made plain by the official reports of and by the official acts following the riot.
 Under ordinary conditions the awful calamity would be deplored without due fear of a recurrence. But such Is not the case in the present instance. Your peti- tioners are advised that millions of Jews Russian subjects-dwellng in southwest ern Russia, are in constant dread of fresh outbreaks. They feel that ignorance sup erstition and bigotry as exemplif1ed by the rioters are ever ready to prosecute them; that the local authorities. unless thereunto specially admonished cannot be relied on as strenuous protectors of their peace and security; that public sentiment of hostility has been engens dered against them and hangs over them as a continuing menace.
 Great Effects Involved.
 Even if it be conceded that these fears are to some extent exaggerated 1t Is un- occasionally true that they exist, that they are not groundless and that they produce effects of great importance.
 'The westward migration of Russian Jews which has proceeded for over twen- ty years, is being stimu&ted by these fears, and already the movement has be- come so great as to Overshadow in magni- tude the expulsion of the Jews from Spain and to rank with the exodus from Egypt
 No estimate is possible of the misery, suffered by the hapless Jews who feel driven to forsake their land, to sever the most sacred ties and to wander forth to strange countries. Neither Is it possible to estimate the misery suffered by those who are unwilling or unable to leave the land of their birth, who must part from friends and relatives who emigrate, who remain in never ending terror.
 Religious persecution Is more sinful and more fatuous even than war. War Is sometimes necessary. honorable and just; religious persecution is never de- fensible.
 The sinfuness and folly which give impulse to unnecessary war received their
 
 itiative resulted in an international court of peace.
 Appeal For Liberty.
 With such an example before 1t the civilized world cherishes the hope that upon the same initiative there shall be fixed in the early days of the twentieth century the enduring principle of relig- ious liberty: that by a gracious and con vincing expression your majesty will pro Con NFNFa rVnNn your own subjects but also for the guild ance of all civilized men, that none shall suffer in person, property. liberty honor. or life, because of his religious belief; that the humblest subject or citizen may worship according to the dictates of his own conscience. and that government, whatever its form or agencies must safe guard these rights and immunities by the exercise of all it's powers
 Russia Makes Refusal.
 Far removed from your majesty's do- minions, living under different conditions and owing allegiance to another govern ment, your petitioners yet venture In the name of civiliza tion to plead for religious liberty and tolerance; to plead that he who led his own people and all others to the shrine of peace, will add new lustre to his reign and fame by leading a new movement that shall commit the whole world in opposition to religious persecu- tlons.
 q am instructed to ask whether the petition will be received by your excel lency to be submitted to the gracious con- sideration of his majesty In that case the petition will be at once forwarded to St. Petersburg
 Il avail myself" etc.. etc.
 You will report at the earliest possible moment. your execution of this instruc- ton. Hay
 Russia Makes Refusal. This was sent on the 18th of July and on the same day MT. Riddle was informed by the Russian Minister of Foreign Af- fairs that. in view of the publication which had appeared in the newspaper. the Russian Government wished to notify him that the proposed petition would not be received under any circumstances and that this resolution of the AAssian Gov.