Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-07-16
KISHINEFF OUTRAGES.
Conference Held at Sycamore Hill
on the Petition to Russia.
NITESTEpSyOr UNDETERMINED
A Problem ~ to whether Representation
Concerning the Massacre Are Now
Necessary. as Russia Seems 20 he
Furnishing the Culprits.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, July 15.-An i'm
portant conference was held at Saga
more Hill yesterday between the pres
ident and representative Jewish citi
zens OF the society Of the B'nai Britt
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 embar-
raised by the delay of the representa-
tives Of the B'nai Birth society In
presenting the petition. A draft of the
document was handed to President
Roosevelt several weeks ago by Mr..
Wolf, but 1t was decided after some
consideration to modify the text Of the
petition before presenting 1t formally
to this government for transmittal to
Russia. Time was desired, too, to OBJ
tain to the petition the signatures Of
representative citizens Of the United
States, of all the religious faiths. As
result the document was not placed
in the hands of the president until
yesterday.
Messrs. Wolf, Levi and Straus con-
cluded their conference with the presi-
dent and left for New York in the
evening. Prior to their departure they
announced that, while their conference
had been eminently satisfactory, they
were not in a position at this time to
discuss the result of the interview.
The petition in its modified form was
presented to the president, but 1t is
understood that signatures to 1t 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
signers are of other religious beliefs.
1t is learned that a statement soon
will be made by the state department
in Washington, which will disclose the
steps taken and to be taken by this
government, but there are reasons why
publicity at this moment should not
be given to the precise method of pro-
cedure.
Both Mr.. Wolf and Mr.. Straus have
served the government in diplomatic
and Mr.. Levi has been identi-
fed from the first with the movement |
for the amelioration of the condition
Of the Jews in Russia All of them,
1t can be said, are delighted with the
position taken by this government.
They recognize fully, however, the lin
itations which surround the state de- |
partment in matter SO delicate as the |
Kishineff incident.
The desire of both the president and |
Secretary Hay is that the Kishineff
ncideNt should be closed as soon as
possible, as further delay in its con-
might prove embarrassing
10 this government in other diplomatic |
negotiations with Russia. Inasmuch
rs the Russian government has indi-
lated by the adoption of severe meas
Tres a genuine disposition to punish
adequately the perpetrators Of the
kishineif murders and in addition
hose who instigated them 1t is a
problem for the president and Secre-
airy Hay to solve whether representa-
ions concerning the incident now are
'ither desirable or necessary.