The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-07-02
TO BEARD THE BEAR
President Takes Bold Step
in Behalf CT Hebrews.
WILL APPEAL TO CZAk
Takes Risk of Call-Down and OF En-
gendering Unfriendly Feeling
Petition May Never Reach
Russian Ruler.

A Washington special says: The
nresident has decided 70 transmit 10
the Russian government the petition
presented to him by the executive
council of the B'nai Birth regarding
treatment of Jews in Russia.
This action has been taken after ma
ture consideration At first 1t was de
cided that the petition should not NC
presented because it might be resentea
by the government Of Russia and leao
TO response that would cause
break in the relations OF the TWO
countries. However, the first conclu-
sion has been reconsidered and, by d.
rection of the president. the petition
will now 20 forward. What the result
will be is problemat-
Hays Note to Wolf.
AS indicated in the following note
from Secretary Hay TO Simon "on'
the presentation will probably be MADE
to the Russian government'through the
United States charge at St. Peters
burg. The note reads:
Department OF State, Washington
June "a, 19G3.-Dear Sir: The p'esl-
dent has concluded to transmit to the
Russian government the petition Oh
which you presented him draft on
the 18th of this month. The matter
which he had to consider most serious
" was whether or not such a proceed
ing would be to the advantage Of your
prosecuted and outraged co-rellglon1sts
in Russia. On this point he has declo-
ed to accept your opinion and that OF
the number Of intelligent groups or
American citizens Of the Jewish faith
whom you represent. He requests thae
you will send him the petition IN due
form at your earliest convenience. VI
course, you will understand that the
president can not tell you what recep-
ton your petition will meet at the
hands of the Russian government. l
am faithfully yours, JOHN HAY.
"Hon Simon Wolf, washington, D. c.
The petition which will be transmit
ted to the Russian government is the
one which the executive council OF the
B'nai Birth handed to the president as
a tentative document to be signed by
leading citizens of the United States
outside of federal 'oficeholders. 1t Is
expected that it will take about two
weeks to secure these signatures,
work along that line already being in
progress.
Upon hearing that the government
of the United States had decided to
forward the petition to the Russian
government, Count Cassini went 20
the state department and consulted
with Secretary Hay.
The call of the ambassador upon
Secretary Hay was shorter than usual.
but it developed officially the fact that
the government Of the United States
intended to forward the Jewish petit
ton to hte car, if it IS possible to do
so. At the white house conference on
the 18th of June, the Jews had made
the point that the car was kept from
knowledge of the truth as to the con-
dition of the Jews in his empire by
the bureaucrats who hedged him
about on all sides, and they were
sure that if the president would only
once assist them in laying their case
before the czar himself, he would at
once adopt measures to alleviate
their condition. The president at that
hearing promised to do what he could.
The Jews, however, were not salts
fed with this passive attitude and the
president decided to adopt the bold
course of sending the petition directly
to the czar through the United States
embassy at St. Petersburg.
Officially it is expected that this will
be received, but privately 1t may be
stated that there have been no lack
Of intimations from informed sources
that the czar will never be permitted
to see the petition, as the Russian
prime minister will not receive 1t for
transmission.