The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-17
A Petition May be Presented
to the Gar.
A SEMl-OFFlClAL PAPER
Beyond This No Action Can be Taken in Regard
to The kishinsff Massacre --RooseYeIt
ard Hay Express Deep
Sympathy.
Sympathy.
(By the Associated Press

representative association, BNai Birth
the Jews of America, today laid theil
grievances before President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hay and they are content to
abide by whatever the executive decides
is best for them. By appointment at hall
past ten this morning the executive coun-
Gil OF this association, called at the State
Department. They were L. N. Levi, presi
dent, New York; Jacob Furth, vice-presi-
dent and treasurer, of Cleveland; Solo
mon Sulzberger, honorary secretary, New
York; Jos. ID. Coons, Wikesbarre, Pa. !;
Adolph Moses, Chicago, and Simon Wolff,
OF Washington. Secretary Hay received
the council in the diplomatic room and
spent three-quarters of an hour listening
to. their representations and comenting
upon them. Then the Secretary escorted
his callers to the White House, where
they We're received by President Roose-
welt and again presented their views and
listened to what he had to say In their
interviews both the President and Secre-
tary Hay were extremely satisfactory to
the council
The massacre at Kishincff was the prin-
cipal topic of discussion. But the Jews
realized, after hearing what the President
and Secretary Hay had to say, that there
was nothing that this government could
do at this moment to undo what had
been done in Bessarabia. So, looking to
the future, the council besought the Pres
ident to use his good offices to secure the
ear of the Gear.
The President and Secretary Hay list
ened with the deepest interest and SYM
panthy TO these representations and both
replied In terms that showed the depth
of their feeling in the matter 1t was
promised that everything that the execu-
tive could properly do without violating
the principles of international comfy
would be done but neither President
Roosevelt nor Secretary Hay were able
to make any definite promise beyond this
which was accepted as satisfactory.
Tonight statement was given out at
the White House concerning me confer
ence on the Kishineff affair The state
ment consisted of a memorandum sub
mitted by the B'Nai Birth on the massa-
ere in April, tentative draft of a petit
ton to the Car which it was decided this
government should unoffcialy or semi
officially assist in delivering to the Car
and procuring a reply thereto and copies
of the replies of Secretary Hay and Presi-
dent Roosevelt to their callers. The mem
orandum says the facts concerning the
Kishineff massacre as officially reported
by the Russian government have appalled,
and Mortified not only the Jews in Russia
and elsewhere but the whole American
people who want something done and
whose hostility to Russia If nothing Is
done will become intensified and fixed.
The Jews, it says, likewise, are fearful of
the future.
Two propositions were submitted. First,
that a petition to the Gar from leading
men of ALI States of the Union be pre-
pared, the government to assist IN secur-
ing its delivery to the Car and reply
thereto; secondly, to use the Klschlnef
incident as the basis for an official invita-
ton by the United States, addressed by
the powers, to an international conference,
to consider prosecutions growing out OF
racial and religious prejudlces and to
protect civilization from the evil effects
of such.
A tentative draft of the people to the
Gar was presented recitlng iii some de-
tail the recent outrages against the Jews
in Russia and declaring that they were
due to race and religious prejudices. 1t
therefore petitioned that by a gracious
and convincing expression Your Majesty
will proclaim, not only for the govern
ment of your own subjects but also Tor
the guidance of all cizilized men, that
none shall suffer in person, property
liberty or life, because Of his religious
telief; that the humblest subject or cltl-
zen may worship, according to the dictates
of his own conscience, and that govern
ment whatever its form or agencies, must
safeguard these rights and immunitles by
the exercise of "a. its powers.
In reply to the memorandum Secretary
Hay said:
mo person OF ordinary humanity can
have heard without deep emotion the story
of the cruel outrages inflicted on the Jews
of Kischineff. These lamentable eevents
have caused the profoundest impression
throughout the world, but most especial
ly in this country where there are so many
of your co-religionists who form such
desirable element of our population IN IN
dustry, thrift, public spirit and CONNER
cial morality Nobody can ever make the
Americans think i'll of the Jews as c'ass
OF as receive know them too well. In
now passing, the Jews of the United
States, having given evidence OF the high
est qualites--generosity love OF justice,
and powers of self restraint.
THE government of the United States
must exhibit the same qualities l know
you do not doubt the sentiments of the
President No one hates more energetl-
cally than he does such acts of cruelty and
injustice as these we now 4--ore. We
will carefully consider al the circum-
stances and then decide whether any Of
fetal action can be taken to add to the
impressive and effective expressions of
public opinion in this country during the
last month. You will have observed that
no civilized government in the world has
yet taken official action. This considera-
ton alone would bid us to proceed with
care. The Emperor OF Russia is entitled
to our respect, not merely as the ruler
of great and friendly nation, but as
a man whose personal character is even
more elevated than his exalted station.
We should not be justified in assuming