The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-02
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WILL
TRANSMIT PETITION.
Intimated, However, That the Rus
sian Prime Minister will Refuse
to Transmit 1t to the CZar--Pos-
sibly May Cause Strain on Cor
dial Relations.

B'nai Birth regarding the treatme nt
of Jews in Russia.
This action has been taken after ma
ture consideration. At first it was de-
cided that the petition should not he
presented because it might be resented
by the Russian government, and lead
to a.lesponse that would cause break
in the relations of the two countries.
However, the first conclusion has been
reconsidered.
What the result will be is problem
atical. As Indicated in the following
note from Secretary Hay to Simon
Wolf, >the presentation will probably
be made to the Russian government
through the United states charge at
st. Petersburg. The note reads
department of State, Washington,
d. c., June "a.
"Dear Sir-The president has con-
Guided ito transmit to the Russian gov,
eminent the petition of which you pre-
sented him a draft on the 18th Of this
month. The matter which he had to
consider most seriously was whether or
not such proceeding would be to the
advantage of your prosecuted and out
ragged co-religionists in Russia. On
this point he has decided to accept your
opinion, and that of the numerous and
intelligent groups of American citizens
from the Jewish faith whom you repre-
sent. He requests that you will send
him the petition in due 'orm, at your
will understand that the president can
not tell you what reception your petit
tion will meet with at the hands of the
Russian government.
81 am, sir, faithfully yours,
"JOHN HAY.
"Hon. Simon Wolf, Washington, D. G.
Is Not Yet Signed.
The petition which will be pesented
to the Russian government is the one
which the executive council of the
B'nai Birth handed to the pesident as
tentative document to be signed by
leading citizens of the United States
outside of federal officeholders.
1t is expected that it will take about
two weeks to secure these signatures,
work along that line already being in
progress.
Upon learning that the government of
the United States had decided to for
ward the petition to the Russian gov
eminent. Count Cassini went to the
state department and consulted with
Secretary Hay.
The call OF the ambassador upon Sec
rotary Hay was shorter than usual, but
it developed officially the fact that the
government of the United States in
tended to forward the Jewish petition
to the ear if it is possible to do so. At
the White House conference on the 18th
Instant the Jews had made the point
that the ear was kept in ignorance as
to the exact condition of the yves in
his empire by the bureaucrats who had
hedged him about on all sides, and they
were sure that if the president would
only assist them in laying their case
before the car himself, be would at
once adopt measures to alleviate their
condition.
Believed Gar Is Kept in Ignorance
The president, at the hearing, prom
ised to do what he could. 1t was at
once perceived that to do what was
asked involved the danger OF short re-
ply, and disposition developed to re-
gard the full publicity which had been
given to the White House conference as
suctfiient to meet the demands of the
case, for it was assumed that the car
could not fail 10 see some of the news
paper comments and reports on tie
subject. The Jews, however, were not
satisfied with this passive attitude and
the pres ident decided TO adopt the bold
course of sending their petition direct
ly 10 the czar through the United States
embassy at st. Petersburg. Officially,
IL is expected that this will be received,
but privately, it may he stated that
there have been no lack of intimations
from informed sources that the car
will never be permitted to see the petit
ton, as the Russian prime minister
will not receive it for transmission.
In fact it is realized that the Russian
position is correctly described in the
statement telergaphed from Washing
ton on June 8 by the Associated Press,
from which this extract is taken:
'NOr will it be possible for Russia
to receive any representations regard
ing the Kischinef incident from any
foreign power. The Russian govern
ment takes the same position as that
long held by the American government,
namely, that ii refrains from interfer-
ing in anv internal affairs of another
power and must insist on similar treat
ment for itself"
May Sever Cordial Relations.