The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-07-18
CONFER WITH PRESIDENT.
Meet Roosevelt Regarding
Petition to Russia,

Oyster Bay, L. l., July 15.-An i'm
portant conference was held at Saga
more Hill Tuesday between the pres
ident and representative Jewish citi-
zens OF the Society of the B'nai Birth
regarding the petition to the Russian
government on the Kishineff outrages
Besides the president the parties to
the conference were Simon S. Wolf, Of
Washington; Oscar S. Straus and Leo
N. Levi, of New York.
The administration has been en-
barrassed by the delay of the repre-
sentatives of the B'nai Birth society
In presenting the petition. A draft of
the document was handed to Presi-
dent Roosevelt several weeks ago by
/ Mr.. Wolf, but it was decided after
some consideration to modify the text
of the petition before presenting it
formally to the government for trans
initial to Russia. Time was de-
sired too to obtain to the petition the
signatures of representative citizens
OF the United States of all the reli-
gious faiths. AS a result, the docu-
ment was not placed in the hands of
the president until Tuesday.
The result of the conference at Saga
more Hill has not been disclosed yet,
but a strong intimation is given that
the petition may not be forwarded to
the Russian government. The desire
OF both the president and Secretary
Hay is that the Kishineff incident
should be closed as soon as possible
as further delay in it's consideration
might prove embarrassing to this
government in other diplomatic nego-
uations with Russia. Inasmuch as
the Russian government has indicated
by the adoption of severe measures a
genuine disposition to punish ade-
Guate'y the perpetrators of the Kish-
incH murders. and, in addition. those
who instigated them, it is a problem
for the president and Secretary Hay
to solve whether represent atoms con-
corning the incident now are either de-
sirab;e or necessary.
1t is suggested that the whole mat
ter may be resolved into brief state
ment through diplomatic channels to
the Russian foreign office that such a
petition is in the hands of the United
States, thus leaving to Russia to say
whether it would or would not re-
ceive the document. if it were present.
ed. 1t would close the incident with
out subjecting the United States rela-
tons with Russia to strain, and it is
regarded would be quite as effective as
the actual presentation of the petition
Messrs Wolf, Levi and Strauss con-
cluded their conference with the presi-
dent and left for New York by the 4:1S
train. Prior to their departure they
announced that, while their conference
had been eminently satisfactory, they
were not in position at this time to
discuss the result Of the interview. The
petition in it's modified form was pre-
sented to the president, but it is UNDER
stood that signatures to it are yet being
added, and probably will continue to
be added for several days. While many
citizens of Jewish faith have signed the
petition, majority of the signatures
are those of persons of other religious
beliefs. 1t is learned that statement
soon will be made by the state depart
ment in Washington which will dis
close the steps taken and to be taken
by this government, but there are rea-
sons why publicity at this moment
should not be given to the precise meth
cd of procedure.
Both Mr.. Wolf and Mr. Strauss have
served the government in diplomatic
capacity, and Mr.. Levi has been iden-
titled from the first with the movement
for the ameioration of the condition
Of the Jews in Russia. All of them, it
can be said, are delighted with the po-
sition taken by this government. They
recognize fully, however, the limita-
tons which surround the state depart
ment in matter SO delicate as the
kiShinaff iucident