The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-18
RUSSlA'S
REFUSAL
correspondence About Kishl.
neff Petition Made Public.
BE NO FURTHER ACTION
MIR. Riddle, the American Charge in ST.
Petersburg, Gables that Under No
Circumstances Would Russia
Receive the Petition.
(By Associated Press.)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, July 17.-1t Is stated
by the Secretary Of State that tho incl
dent created by the question Of the pre-
sentation Of the Jewish petition to RUS
sia is closed. The State Department to-
day MADE public the correspondence that
has taken place respecting the petition.
Its substance has already been fore
casted IN the press dispatches. The cor
respondence consists OF an instruction to
Mr. Riddle United States charge daft
flares at st. Petersburg, recting in detail
the petition, and directing him to present
the same TO the Foreign Office, If 1t were
willing to receive It.
1t is stated by Mr.. Riddle that the For
eign Office would not receive 1t under
any circumstances, and Secretary Hay
SO informed the B'Nai Birth committee
In a brief telegram.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The Official statement Of the facts Is IS
follows:
The Russian Government has declined
relating to the condition OF the Jews in
ssaeq BY o
direction of the President.
AZ 1 the conference on Tuesday, the l4th
CO 1a T 1yS er Eay Econ hf GeI smon
Wolfe and oscar S. straus in regard TO
the presentation Of the petition and de-
eided to send the following dispatch to
flares. in st. Petersburg:
Department Of State, washington, D.
G.. July Is, 1903. ~
Riddle. st. Petersburg:
You are Instructed to ask an audi
ence of the Minister Of Foreign Affairs
and to make to him the following COM
"iFycejiencv. Tha eacretarv of State
lnstr.ucts me to inform you that the
President has received from large mum.
Der Of citizens Of the United States Of
the highest positions in both public and
private life. a respectful petition address
ed to His Majesty. the Emperor. relat-
ing to the condition Of the Jews in RUS
sia and running as follows:
To His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor
- The cruel outrages perpetrated at
out the World UatlI Sour Majesty gave
special and personal directors the local al
: THE victims were Jews. and the as
sault was the result OF race and religious
prejudice.
The rioters violated the laws OF Rus
1.-THE local officials were derelict in
The Jews were the victims OF inde-
feasible lawlessness.
I" These facts are made by the official
reports Of ana a'nl by the official acts fol
FEAR OF RECURRENCE.
''Under the ordinary conditions, the
awful calamity would be deplorssd Win with,
is not the case in the present instance.
Your petitioners are advised that millions
of Jews, Russians. dwelling in South
fresh outbreaks: they feel that isnor-
ance. superstition and bigotry, as eXem-
plifled by the rioters. are ever ready 10
unless they are, especially. admonished'
cannot be relied on as strenuous pro.
tectors. OF their peace and security; that
pa6G araeat ~ and hangs
them as a continuing menace,
/" Even II it be conceded that these
fears are to some extent eXaggeratea u
that they are not groundless. ana that
they produce effects Of great Importance
80 The westward migration OF RUSSIAN
ty years. is being stimulated by these
fears, and already that movement has
become SO great as to overshadoW IN
Spain. and to rank With the exodus from
Egypt RI estimate is POSSIBLE of the misery
drYen 10 oy ors na Mn TO
sever the most sacred ties and TO wan
der forth to strange countries, Neither
is it possible to estimate the misery SUI.
unable to leave the land of their birth;
who must part from friends and rela-
tives who emlgrate; who remain IN never
ending terror.
I'Rellgious persecution is more sin
War is sometimes necessary. honorable
eng iust; religious persecution Is never
The sinfuness and folly which give
impulse to unnecessary War ,.eGei tIa
their check when Your Ma5etsI aya, m nn,r,
with such an example b, before ore, IT. the
Id w Yne there G shall
fixed in the early days OF the tW WEI e,
liberty; that by gracious ana ,1, convlnc iii
not only for the government OF your own
subjects, but also for the guldanee ., OF
all civilized men; that none shall suffer s
person pTbGip p rssinna beef that me
humblest subject or citizen may WoEs!IiL
according to the dictates OF ms own , con
science, and that governmehfnt wnpt e oe
rights and mmunities by the exercise OF
- Far removed from Your Mapestyy,, I, DO do.
nna ewing v niesa anee 70 another govern
| ment your petitioners yet venture N INC
name Of civilization, to plead tor ren en- 10 Us
led his people and al Others ,t e = ne e
shrine Of peace viii add new Is iusefe a &c
movement that shall put s the whoei wef@
~ am Instructed TO ask Whether the
petition viii be received by Your ", r Exec aa,l
iency 10 be submitted to the gracious con
Solicitation of His Majesty, ~ tnas cas- .
| the petition viii be at once lof"asaed l'
| Ct Petersburg,
| IT avail myself, ETC.. .;,.L
You will report at the eaf hes R nstlc
moment your execution OF ms i's'fup
ton. .,r1Ayn
POSITIVE DECLINATl0N,
This was sent on the 18Th n1a9 81 J4 W. an m
formed by the Russian minister ioI tor ore
asrs ha1 IN II View e. ppe eMspapess wh Il
Russian government wished to notify hin
ihat re proposed peti'flsenn W9aie 0t
that this resolution Of the M dant II g nM
eminent was taken indepeIn.ansMt o o. an ~
terms OF the petition. on me sre a,a n .