Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-07-09
Statement ON
JEWISH petition.
Our Government Makes Its
Position Towards Russia
Plain and Positive.
SITUATION is VERY DELICATE
official Reply to Inspired Note From
Russian Government On the Matter
Reply Carefully Considered BY
the President.

Washington, July 3.-The position
of the administration regarding the
proposed transmission of the petition
of the Jewish citizens of the United
States to the Russian government was
made very clear anu positive by
statement authorized by the state de.
partment. This statement was inspir.
ed by newspaper publications reflect.
ing the attitude of the Russian gov.
eminent in the event Of the presenta.
ton OF such petition through the me-
dunn of the United States embassy at
st. Petersburg which has been brought
to the attention of high officers of the
government. 1t was given very care.
full consideration both here and Mt
Oyster Bay before the decision was
reached to make any declaration re.
garding the matter The statement
is as follows:
"At the state department it was
stated by high officials that in the alb
sence Of Secretary Hay that the delay
in forwarding the petition of the
American citizens of the Jewish faith
as to the ill treatment OF their CO.
religionists in Russia was, solely due
to the delay in furnishing the address
to the state department by the petf-
TONERS. The state department. would.
OF course, pay no heed to any state.
ment purporting to emanate from the
Russian government unless such state.
ment was made officially in some form
or other to our government. The
state department has been specially
careful to act only in accordance with
all requirements of official proprietS,
but within the limits thus laid down it
will most certainly not hesitate to
give expression to the deep sympathy
felt not only by the administration,
but by all the American people for the
unfortunate Jews who have been vic.
Tins in the recent appalling massa.
ores and outrages. In this connection
it was pointed out by another official
who disclaimed any purpose to speak
in his official capacity, however, that
it seemed somewhat strange, to say
the least, that the Russian government
should choose this particular method
of making statement to the Ameri.
can people at the very time when, by
methods which are certainly the re-
verse of friendly to the United States,
it is sought to make China join in
breaking the plighted faith of all the
powers as to the open door in Man.
churia, and has endeavored to bar
our people from access to the Man
churian trade"
The above statement was shown to
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa,
dor, but he declined to make any com.
ment on it. Any reply to this state
ment must be made under directions
from st. Petersburg. 1t is realized,
both at the state department and at
the Russian embassy. that the sit
uation is extremely delicat.
Washington, July 3.-Acting Secre-
tary of State Loomis has been notified
that the appeal on behalf of the Rus.
sian Jews will be delivered at the
state department within week. Up.
on receipt of the petition by the Unit
ed States government it will be dis
patched to Mr.. Riddle, United States
charge at st. Petersburg.