The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-03
1t VIII Be Ready for Trans
initial In a Few Days.
1T MAY BE REJECTED
Should the Russian Government De-
cline to Receive it the President
Would Be Absolved Of
Further Duty.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, u. c.. July 2--Acting
Secretary of State LOOMS has been noti-
fled that the petition in behalf Of tho
Russian Jews will probably be delivered
al the State Department or at oyster
Bay in about week The document Is
being sent from one city to another In
order to secure the signatures of the
representative Hebrews and American
publicists in every section of the country
which can be easily reached.
Without delay, and Immediately upon
the receipt Of the petition by the United
States Government. it will be dispatched
to Mr.. Riddle, United States charge at
st. Petersburg. 1t will be accompanied
by a note OF transmittal instrlcting Mr..
Riddle exactly what disposition to make
of the petition. for there Is no Intention
here to place any undue responsibility on
the charge Of this matter. The depart
ment does not at present expect to pub
l.sh the note, 30 that It's nature is a mat
ter Of speculation, the weight Of opinion
being that Mr.. Riddle will be instructed
to inquire Of the Russian government
whether it is willing to receive petit
ton. the nature Of which will be plain
~ indicated by him. If there Is Mega
tive response Mr.. Riddle will SO notify
the State Department and that probably
will end the efforts Of the department in
connection with the petition. The Presi-
dent through Secretary Hay informed his
Jewish allerS tnaL ne COulu not tell WuaL
reception the petition would meet with at
the hands Of the Russian Government.
and should the petition fail Of a reception
after Mr.. Riddles efforts 1t would abb
solve the President from further pursuit
OF the matter.
INFORMAL DISCUSSION.
Meanwhile, and until the petition is re-
ceived here, there is nothing more to be
done. 1t is said. Through the newspapers.
in an unofficial but quite adequate man
rer, the governments Of the United States
and of Russia have acquainted each other
with their respective attitudes concern
ing the Jewish petition. and all that re-
mains is to await the working out of the
programmes.
Count Cassini the Russian ambassa-
dor, called at the State Department to-
day to present Theodore Hansen as charge
during the absence of the ambassador.
Ie developed that Count Cassini dis
cussed with Acting Secretary of State
Loomis the statement Issued last night
relative to the Jewish petition and Man
ckuria, not by any instruction from his
government or in any formal way. and
Mr.. LOOMS remarks were under the
same conditions, so that the substance
of the conference was simple repetition
OF the published statements of the prob
able course and attitude Of the two coun-
tries regarding the petition and Manchu-
ria, rather in the way of furnishing in
formation than with the intent of binding
either party to an understanding. Thus
It appeared that Russia still consistently
held to the theory that she. like tho
United States, held that there should be
no interf 2rence In the internal affairs of
nations However. both parties parted In
tho greatest good humor, which was
source of qualification. as 1t probably
will be their last meeting before the am
bassador sails for Europe.