Milford chronicle., 1904-09-30
PROTECTION OF CITIZENS.
No Discrim ination in Treatment of
Native Born and NaturaIized.


Native Born and NaturaIized.
Dispatches from s.. Petersburg repre-
sent the Russian press as commenting in
a dazed manner upon the efforts of the
Onited States government 10 protect its
Jewish citizens IN foreign countries The
Journal de s.. Petersburg elitorially
characteriZes as "Stupetyiug" an article
IN a recent French paper which pr0feSsed
to explain President Roosevelt's desire
10 gain more liberal treatment for Rus.
sian Jews naylraized in the United
States and revisitng Russia with pass
ports as American citizens.
In his letter of acceptance President
Roosevelt gave an authoritative account
of the ground taken by his own admins
tration and that Of President Mckinley
as regards the protection of American
citizens of foreign birth. or Of particu-
lar creed, who desire 70 travel abroad
the phrase is quoted from the letter Of
acceptance. Il is alone as an example
of condensed and accurate meaning. ill.,
structive. Continuing, President Roose-
welt says:
Russia, for instance, refuses 10 admit
and protect Jews. Turkey refuses to ad-
tians This government has consistently
demanded equal protection abroad for all
American citizens whether native or
naturaliZed. On March p. 1899, Secre-
tary Hay sent letter of instructions to
all diplomatic and consular officers of
the United States, in which he said;
| This department does not discriminate
between native born and naturalized citi-
zens in according them protection while
they are abroad. equality Of treatment
beng required by the laws Of the United
States
These orders to our agents abroad
have been repeated again and again, and
are treated as the fundamental rule Of
conduct laid down for them, proceeding
upon the theory that all naturalized citi-
zens of the United States while in for
! eign countries are entitled TO and shal.
receive from this government the same
protection Of persons and property which
| is accorded TO native born citizens.
He further declares that in issuing
passports the State Department never
discriminates or alludes to any mans re-
ligion. and that in granting to every
American citizen, native or naturaized,
/ NuElSuun OF JtMs LAe NdlilC pdNNl'bA 4 f'N
| far as it has power it insists that all
| foreign governments shall accept the
passport as prima facie proof that the
/ person therein described is a citizen of
| the United States and entitled to protec-
tion as such. 1t is a standing order to
/ every American diplomatic and consular
officer to protect every American citizen,
of whatever faith. from unjust molesta-
ton: and our officers abroad have been
stringently required to comply with this
| order"
This enunciation of course Of action
| is backed by the cause of justice. The
reception recently given the American
idea of religious liberty in certain quar-
ters on the continent Of Europe attaches
| additional pertinence to the criticism
! with which Mr.. Roosevelt closed that
section of his letter which he devoted 70
| the discussion of the theme. 1T is a
I striking evidence" he says, 'of our op'
ponents' insncerity in this matter that
with their demand for radical action by
the State Department they couple de
mand for a reduction in our small mlh
tary establishment. Yet they must know
that the heed paid to our protests against
| III treatment of our citizens will be eX
actly proportionate TO the belief in oui
ability to make these protests effective
should the need arise"