The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-06-29
WILL PETITION REACH
THE CAR.
It Is Doubted in Official Circles at
Washington and Short An
swer May Result from
the Action of the
President.

Washington. June 25.-The president has
decided to transmit to the Russian gov
eminent 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 mature
consideration. At first It was decided that
the petition should not be presented be-
cause II might be resented by the govern
ment OF Russia and lead to response
that would cause a break In the relations
of the two countries However the first
conclusion has been reconsidered and
by direction of the president the petition
will now go forward. What the result
Will be IS problematical
Hays Note to Wolf.
AS indicated in the following note from
Secretary Hay to Simon Wolf the presen-
tation will probably be made to the Rus
elan government through the United
States charge at St Petersburg. The
note reads:
Department OF Sta e. Washington june
"a, 1902-Dear Sir: The president has con-
Guided to transmit to the Russian govern
nent the petition of which YOU presented
him draft the 18th of this month.
The matter which he had to consider most
seriously was whether or not such a pro-
ceedfng would be to the advantage of
; Your prosecuted and Outra ged co-religion-
lists In Russia. On this point he has dc
rlded to accept Your opinion and that OF
the number OF intelligent groups of
American citizens Of the Jewish faith
whom You represent. He requests thar
You will send him the petition in due form
ut your earliest convenience. OF course.
You will understand that the president
can not tell YOU what reception your pc
ution will meet with at the hands of
me Russian government I am faithfully
yours. JOHN Hay.
Hon. Simon Wolf. Washington D c."
What Will Russia DoP
The petition which will he transmitted
10 the Russian government is the one
which the executive council of the B'nai
Birth handed to the president as tenta-
tive document to he signed by leading
citizens Of the United States outside of
federal ofiiceholders. 1t Is expected that
st will take about two weeks TO secure
. these signatures, work along that line
alread, being in progress
Upon learning that the government Of
4 the United States had decided TO forward
! the petition to the Russian government.
! Count CasSini went to the state depart
ment and consulted with Secretary Hay.
The call of the ambassador upon Score
tary Hay was shorter than usual. but it
eminent of the United States intended 10
forward the Jewish petition to the car
. IF It is possible to do 50. AT the white
. house conference or the 18th instant the
Jews had made the point that the ear
was kept from knowledge of the truth
as to the condition OF the Jews in his
empire by the bureaucrats VINO hedgod
him about all sides, and they were
sure that if the president you'd only once
assist them in laying their case before the
IA 1-tSif he
measures to alleviate their condition The
president at that hearing promised 10 do
what ne could. 1t was at once perceived
that to do what was asked involved the
danger of a short reply and a disposition
developed to regard the full publicity
which had been given to the white house
conference a sufficient to meet the needs
of the case for ii was assumed that the
car could not fail to see some OF the
newspaper comments and reports upon
this subject.
Jews Not Satisfied.
The Jews. however. were not satisfied
with this passive attitude and the presi
dent decided to adopt the bold course of
sending the petition directly to the car
through the United States embassy at st.
Petersburg. Officially 1t is expected that
this will he received, but privately II may
be stated that there have been no lack
of intimations from informed sources
that the car Will never be permitted to
see the petition. as the Russian prime
minister viii not receive it for transmits
sion. In fact. it is realized that the Rus
eia, rosition is described in the statement
+elegraphed from Washington ON June
nv +ne Associated Press, from which this
extract is taken:
Nor VIII it be possible for Russia TO
receive any repsese nrations regarding the
Ilshinef incident from foreign power