The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-26
WILL DARE TO ASK
GEAR OF THE RUssIAs TO STOP
PROSECUTIONS.
PETITION OF AMERICAN JEWS
WILL DE FORWARDED OFFICIALLY
by THE PRESIDENT.

IL Was at First Thought That the
Publicity Given the Appeal of the
Executive Council of the B'Naf
FIRTH Would sunice--Jews Were
Especially Anxious, However, to
Have the Omcfnl Intercession OF
the United States. So Severance of
Relations VIII He Braved.
Washington, June 25.-The President
has decided to transmit to 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 be
| presented because 1t might be resented
by the government of Russia, and lead
to a response that would cause break
in the relations of the two countries.
However. the first conclusion has been
reconsidered and by direction of the
President the petition will go forward.
What the result will be is problemati-
| cal.
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,
June "a, 1903. Dear Sir: The President
has concluded to transmit to the Rus
sian government the petition of which
you presented 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 outraged co-religionsts in Russia
Upon this point he has decided to ac-
cept your opinion. and that of the nu-
merous and intelligent groups of Amer
lean citizens of the Jewish faith whom
you represent He requests that you
will send him the petition in due form
at your earliest convenience.
'Of course you will see that the Pres
ident cannot tell you what reception
your petition will meet with at the
hands OF the Russian government.
Il am sir, faithfully yours.
(Signed) John Hay.
Hon. Simon Wolf. Washington.
d. c."
VIII secure signatures.
The petition which will be trans
Matted to the Russian government is
the one which the executive council Of
the BNai BIRTH handed 10 the 'resi-
dent in a tentative document to be
signed by leading citizens of the
United States outside of Federal Of
flee holders. II is said that 1t win
take about two weeks to secure these
signatures, work along that line al
ready being in progress.
Upon learning that the government
or the United States had decided to
forward the petition to Russian gov
eminent, Count Cassini went to the
| a lon pfY nd III.
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 Deti-
ton to the Car If it is possible to do
so. AT the White House conference
on the 18th inst the Jews had made
the point that the Car was kept from
a knowledge of the truth as to the
condition 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 Gar himself, he would at once
adopt measures to alleviate their con-
dition.
The President at that hearing prom
Used to do what he could. 1t was at
once perceived that to do what was
asked involved the danger of short
reply, and there was a disposition TO
regard the full publicity which had
been given to the White House con-
ference as sufficient to meet the needs
Of the case for it was assumed that
the Car could not fail to see some of
the newspaper comments and reports
upon this subject. The Jews, however,
were not satisfied with this passive at
titude and the President decided to
adopt the bold course of sending The
petition directly to the Car through
the United States embassy at st.
| Petersburg.
VIII Not Reach the Gar.
Officially it is reported that this will
be received but privately 1t may be
| stated that there have been no lack of
intimation from informed sources that
the Car will never be permitted to see
the petition, as the Russian prime min
| lister will not receive 1t for transmits
| sion. In fact, il is realized that the
Russian position is still correctly de-
| scribed in the statement telegraphed
| from Washington on June by the AS
ISOLATED Press, from which this extract
is taken:
Nor Will il be possible for Russia to
| receive any representations regarding
the Kishineff incident from a foreign
| power The Russian government takes
the same position as that long held by
the American government, namely, that
| ii refrains from interference i'm the in
ternal affairs of another power and
must insist on similar treatment for
| itself.
If there is to be a refusal on the part
of the Russian government to receive
the Jewish petition, then upon Mr.. Rid
| die, the United States charge OF en-
bassy at st. Petersburg. VIII fall the
| modification. for the ambassador. Mr..
! Mccormick. has not yet returned to his
post from his hasty visit TO Chicago,
and II is entirely possible that what
happens at st. Petersburg, when Mr.
Riddle undertakes his disagreeable
task, may delay the ambassadors re-
turn to St. Petersburg indefinitely. OF
course in such case Count Casslni, who
II sailing week from to-day for Rus
STA, might make a corresDondingiy long
stay az home.
VIII Get the sfsnafaren.