The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-03
JEWISH PASSPORTS
TO Be RECOGNIZED
Russia Has Finally Consented
TO Take Action
TO END DISCRIMINATION
Strange Statement of the Case Was
Recently Sent to the American
Ambassador at ST.
Petersburg.

Washington November 1.-The state de-
partment received a cablegram from the
American embassy at st. Petersburg
which warrants it in the assumption that
the Russian government will soon agree
to recognize of Jewish passports travel
ing as Americans.
Harsh and oppressive Determinations
against American Hebrews who have
visited Russia or have sought to do so.
furnished the basis for a vast amount
of diplomatic correspondence between
Russia and the United States during the
past twenty years.
Up to the present time the United
States has been unable to secure any
alienation of the rigorous measures to
which American Hebrew citizens were
subjected when they desired to visit the
dominions o. the czar. A few weeks ago
the President again directed the depart
ment of state to present the matter most
earnestly to the Russian government, and
in obedience to his wish forceful lnstruc-
lions were sent the American ambassador
at st. Petersburg to lay the matter i'm
mediately before Count Lamsdorff The
instructions said among other things:
End Such Determinations.
you will make known to his excel
lency the views of this government as to
the expediency Of putting an end to such
determinations between different class
es of American citizens on account of
their religious faith when seeking to
| avail themselves of the common priv
! ileges of civilized people to visit each
other In friendly countries for business or
travel.
THAT such discriminatory treatment IS
| naturally matter of much concern to
| this government is a proposition which
| his excelency will readily comprehend
without a dissent. In no other country in
the world is a class discrimination applied
to our visiting citizens That the benefits
aceruing to Russia are sufficient to
| counterbalance the inconvenience involv-
! ed, is open to question from the practi-
cal standpoint. In the view of the pres
ident 1t Is not easy to discern the COM
| pensating advantage to the Russian gov
! eminent in the exclusion of a class of
tourists, and men of business, whose
character and position in life are such
! in most cases as to afford a guard
against any abuse of the hospitality of
| Russia, and whose intelligence and ster-
ling moral qualities fit them to be typi-
cal representatives of our people. and
entitle them to win for themselves abroad
no less degrce of esteem than they enjoy
in their own land"
Was Not Without Effect.
This statement of the case has not
been without effect. and the department
| is encouraged in the belief that its rep
reservations will bring about the de-
| sired result at no late date.
According to information which came
to Washington TO-DAY, Count Lamsdorff
! has informed the American embassy at
| St. Petersburg that q special commission
has been instituted by supreme order,
! that under the direction of the min
istry for the purpose OF again revising the
passport regulations now In force. The
Russian foreign office has a representa-
tive on this commission and Count Lams-
dorff promises that the wishes of this
government as set forth by the president
In the foregoing extract from the in
structions to our ambassador will be
promptly presented with favorable and
satisfactory representations.