The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-24
A PRECEDENT.

Readers of the Journal are aware that a
delegation of prominent Jews recently
called on the President to urge him to make
some representations to the Russian gov
eminent regarding the persecution of the
Jews. The President convinced them by a
very clear statement that such a step by
this government would be i'll advised and
unwise. 1t is probable that Secretary of
State Hay advised him of the outcome of a
former effort of the same kind. In $780,
when Mr.. Hay was first assistant secretary
of state. Mr.. Evarts. then secretary of
state. wrote to Hon. John w. Foster. then
United States minister to Russia, that he
had received a letter from prominent Jew
ish citizens of Washington relative to the
persecution of the Jews in Russia and ask
ing the secretary to make such representa-
tions to the Cars government as would
mitigate their condition. The secretary
reminded the minister that it was the ira
ditional policy of the United States to pro-
mote religious freedom in every proper way.
and added:
1t would of course, be inadmissible for
prOach the government of Russia in criti-
cism OF its laws and regulations, except so
far as such laws and regulations may in
Juriously affect citizens of this country in
violation of natural rights, treaty obliga-
tions or the provisions of international law;
but it Is desired that the attitude of the
controversy which involve an expression of
view on this subject may be wholly con-
sistent with the theory on which this gov
eminent was founded.
Later. when Mr.. Foster had occasion to
use his good offices for a Jew in Russia
who was an American citizen, he put in a
few guarded words in favor Of the Jews in
general. AS to the reception of this sug-
affairs Mr.. Foster wrote:
Mr.. De Giers said he sympathized fully in
theory with the views taken by my govern
ment, as most consonant with the spirit of
the age, but in Russia the subject could not
be treated as an abstract question. A long
series of legislative acts and regulations,
the strong prejudices of the Russian people,
the bad character of great numbers of the
Jewish race and various other political and
social circumstances had to be taken into
consideration.
Still later, when Mr.. Foster renewed the
suggestion, Mr. De Giers came back at him,
gently asking If, even in the United States.
there were not flaws and regulations which
denied certain rights and privileges to des-
ignated persons, and were we not seeking to
exclude or regulate Chinese immigrants and
deny to them the rights extended to other
citizens?" Finally, when Mr.. Blaine be-
came secretary of state, he informed our
minister that while his expressions of sym
pathy with religious freedom were approved
it was desired that he carefully subordinate
such sentiments 70 the simple consideration
of what was conscientiously believed to be
due to our own citizens in foreign lands. He
added: You will distinctly impress upon
the minister for foreign affairs that, regard
full of the sovereignty of Russia, we do not
submit any suggestions touching the laws
these laws and customs conflict with and
destroy the rights of American citizens as
secured by treaty obligations This diplo-
matte passage shows that the very question
recently under discussion was virtually de-
cided nearly twenty-five years ago against
the propriety of this government Offering
any advice regarding Russia's treatment of
her own citizens. Had we done so in the
recent case the Russian Foreign Office
would probably have produced the fore
going correspondence and asked why
we had abandoned the very proper position
| taken in 1880.