The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-03
Cars Government Has Been Given
to Understand That Amer
lea Is Angry.
Forwarding Of B'Nai Birth Petit
ton Due to Russian Course
in Manchuria.
Its Reception or Rejection Will
Make No Difference to This
Country.

Washington. July 3-Relations between
the United States and Russia are stu
strained and no Improvement is to be
noted. In fact, the feeling appears to be
getting more acute. 1t is extraordinary
that both governments are now dropping
the usual methods of diplomatic inter
course and resorting to statements made
thru the newspapers. Provoked beyond
endurance by the duplicity of Russia as
to Manchuria, our government decided
without consulting with Russia, to send
the Jewish petition to St. Petersburg.
The first the Russians knew of that was
when they read it in the papers. They
did not Ike it and retorted thru the press
that they would not receive such petit
ton
Now it is semiofficially announced both
at Oyster Bay and the White House that
the petition will be forwarded just the
same and the Russians may do as they
please about receiving it. Notwithstand-
ing the apparent attitude of the st.
Petersburg government, many officials
here believe that their protestations Of
determination not to receive the petit
ton are bluffs designed If possible
to induce the American government to
retrace it's steps. Howeve. that may be,
1t is certain the United States will play
the game out according to program.
In case the Russian government de-
clines to receive the American petition
and If it also refuses to accede to the
American demands in Manchuria, our
government will be confronted with the
serious problem as to what its next step
shall be. Naturally the river will not be
crossed till it Is reached. However, two
methods of meeting the situation have
been under consideration:
Ambassador May Be Withdrawn.
First-To withdraw the American am
bassador from st. Petersburg, explaining
the withdrawal on the ground that the
pledges and statements made by the Rus
sian government in regard to Manchuria
have been found wholly unworthy Of con-
fidence and that 1t Is useless to continue
diplomatic negotiations with a govern
ment whose plighted word Is without
value, at the same time publishing the
documents which will prove beyond doubt
that the American government is justi-
fled in taking such action.
Second--To publish the documents
which carry proof of Russian duplicity,
but without at once Withdrawing our
ambassador, leaving the phase of the af-
= fair NO be worked out later.
No one Is now able to say If either of
these plans will be adopted. There is
still a hope that the Russian government,
having learned that American diplomacy
can be disagreeable upon occasion will
find way to give us the desired open
ports In Manch<ria. 1t is significant,
however, that these methods Of arraign-
Ing Russia before the world have been
discussed in the American cabinet.
The United States will not break off
diplomatic relations with Russia if it does
SO at all ,on account of the czar's re.
fusal to receive the Jewish petition. The
Washington government fully comedies
the right of st. Petersburg to refuse tt
receive that document. The Kishine1
affair Is in a. certain sense pawn in the
larger game being played.