The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-26
In View of the Announcement that No
Interference with Internal Affairs
Would BE Permitted.
HEBREWS DEMANDED ACTION
WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE
ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY,
And the President Finally Decided to
Risk q Break I'm Cordial ReIa-
tfons Now Existing.

WASHINGTON. June 25.-The President
has decided to transmit to the Russian gov
ernment the petition presented to him
by the executive council Of the Bnai
Birth regarding treatment Of Jews in
Russia. The petition is a tentative docu-
ment to be signed by leading citizens of
the United States outside Of federal Office
holders. 1t is expected that it will take
about two weeks to secure these sigma
lures, work along that line already being
IN progress.
At first 1T was decided that the petition
should not be presented because II might
be resented by the government of Russia
and lead to a response that will cause
break in the relations Of the two countries.
However, the first conclusion has been re-
considered and by direction of the Presi-
dent the petition will now go forward.
What the result will be is problematical.
AS Indicated in the following note from
Secretary Hay to Simon Wolfe, the pre-
sentation probably will be made to the
Russian government through the United
States charge at st. Petersburg. The note
reads:
Dear Sir-The President has concluded
10 transmit 10 the Russian government
the petition of which you presented him a
draft on the 18th of this month The mat
ter which he had to consider most serious
ly was whether or not such a proceeding
would be to the advantage of your perse-
cuted and outraged coreligionists in Rus
sia- On this point. he has decided TO accept
your opinion and that of the numerous and
intelligent groups OF American citizens of
the Jewish faith whom you represent. He
requests that you will send him the peti-
tion In due form at your earliest convent
ence- OF course you will understand that
the President cannot tell you what recep-
ton your petition will meet with ut the
hands OF the Russian government"
CASSINI SEES HAY
Upon learning that the government OF the
United States had decided to forward the
petition to the Russian government. Count
Cassini went to the State Department and
consulted with Secretary Hay. The call of
the ambassador was shorter than usual, but
1t developed officially the fact that the gov
ernment OF the United States intended to
forward the Jewish petition to the Car IL 1t
Is possible to do so. At the White House
conference on the 18th inst. the Jews had
made the point that the Car was kept
from a knowledge OF the truth as to the
conditions of the Jews in his empire by
the bureaucrats who hedged him about on
I'll sides. and they were sure that If the
President would only once assist them In
laying their case before the Car himself
he would at once adopt measures to ale
viate their condition. The President at that
hearing promised TO dc what he could. 1t
was at once perceived that to do what was
asked involved the danger of a short reply
and disposition developed to regard the
White House conference as suffcient to
meet the needs or the case, for II was as
suu.ed that the Car could not fail to see
ports upon this subject. The Jews, how
ever. were not satisfied with this passive
( attitude and the President decided to adopt
directly 10 the Car through the United
States embassy at st. Petersburg.
Oficially 1t is expected that the petition
will be received, but privately IL may be
stated that there have been no lack of inti-
nations from informed sources that the
Gar will never be permitted TO see the Pc
fition, as the Russian prime minister will
not receive 1t for transmission In fact, 1t
Is realized that the Russian positisn Is still
correctly described In the statement tele-
grsphed from Washington June g. from
which this extract is taken:
Nor will IL be possible for Russia to
receive any representations regarding the
Kishineff incident from foreign power.
The Russian government takes the same
POSITION as that long held by the American
government. namely. that II refrains from
other power. and must insist on similar
treatment for itself"
II there is to be refusal on the part Of
the Russian government TO receive the Jew
ish petition then upon Mr.. Riddle, the
United States charge OF embassy at st.
Petersburg. viii fall the modification for
Ambassador Mccormick has not yet re-
turned to his pest from his hasty visit to
Chicago, and IL Is entirely possible that
what happens at s.. Petersburg when Mr..
Riddle undertakes his disagreeable task
may delay the ambassadors return To St.
Petersburg indefinitely. OF course. in such
case Count Cassini. who is sailing week
from to-day for Russia. might make a cor
respondingly long stay at home Upon the
departure OF Count Cassini. Theodore Han
sen, the first secretary of the embassy, will
act as charge d'affaires. He will remain
here until the latter part OF July. when the
embassy will be temporarily established at
Bar Harbor. Me.
Count Cassini's summer plans contemplate
q return TO the United States in September.