New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-03
HAY AIDING HEBREWS.
GOOD NEWS FROM RUSSIA.
State Department Hears That Pass
ports May Soon Be Recognized.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington, Nov. THE State Department
to-day received message from the United
States Embassy at st. Petersburg which war
rants the assumption that the Russian govern
nent will soon agree to recognize the passports
of American Hebrews travelling in Russia
This gratifying news indicates that the persist
ent and vigorous efforts of the President and
Secretary Hay to induce the government Of the
Car to accord the same treatment and privi-
IeSes to American Hebrew citizens who may
visit Russia as are given to other citizens of all
clVlhzed countries are at last about to meet
with favorable response.
Harsh and oppressive discrimination against
American Hebrews who have visited or sought
TO visit. Russia have furnished the basis for a
vast amount Of diplomatic correspondence be-
tween Russia and the United States I'm the last
twenty years
PREVIOUS administrations have been unable to
secure any aileviation of the rigorous measures
TO which American Hebrew citizens we're sub
Jected when they desired to visit Russia A few
weeks ago the President again directed the State
department TO present the subject most ear
neStly to the Russian government and in obe-
dlence to his directions forcefuI instructions
were sent to the American Ambassador at ST.
Petersburg to lay the case Immediately before
Count Lamsdorff. The instructions said among
other things:
You Will make known to his excellency the
views or this government as to the eXpedienCy
or putting an end to such discrimina ions be-
tween different classes of American citizens on
account of their religious faith, when seeking
to avail themselves OF the common privilege Of
civilized peoples visit other friendly countries
for business or travel.
That such discriminatory treatment is natur-
ally matter of much concern this govern
ment is a proposition which his exCellency will
readily comprehend without dissent. In no other
country in the world is class discrimination
applied to visiting citizens. That the ben
efits acCrung to Russia are sufficient to Coun-
terbalanCe the incOnveniences involved is open
to question from the practical standpoint In
the view Of the President 1t is not easy to dis
Germ the compensating advantage TO the Russian
government in the exclusion of class of tour
lists and men Of business whose character and
position in life are such as in most cases to
afford a guarantee against any abuse of the
hospitality of Russia and whose intelligence and
sterling moral qualities fit them to be typical
representatives of our people and entitle them
to win for themselves abroad no less degree OF
esteem than they enjoy in their own land
This earnest statement of the case has had
effect, and the State Department is encouraged
to believe that it's representations Will bring
about the desired result at an early date Ac-
cording to the information which came to Wash
ngton to-day, Count Lamsdorff has informed
the American Ambassador at St Petersburg THAI
a special commission has been instituted by
supreme order under the direction of the Min
tstry of the Interior, for general revision OF
the passport regulations now in force. The Rus
sian Foreign Office has a representative on this
commission and Count Lamsdorff promises that
the wishes of this government as set forth by
the President in the foregoing extract from the
instructions to the Ambassador at st. Peters
burg. will be promptly presented with salts
factory representations