Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-22
PASSPORTS IN RUSSIA
ANOTHER ErFoRr TO HAVE
THEM REcooNIzKD BY THE CAR.
No Determination Against the Jews
Doctrine Of Perpetual Allegiance
Maintained.

State Department to the government OF
Russia relative to recognition OF American
passports issued to naturalized RUSSIAN
Jews was forwarded to Ambassador NC
Cormick from Washington early In July
last, SO that the ambassador has proDaply
been holding 1t at the embassy for whiie
awaiting a favorable moment for It's pre-
sentation to the Russian foreign office. 1t
is surmised that the belief that the present
Is a favorable moment was based upon the
fact that as an incident to the birth OF an
heir to the Russian throne the car IS sup
posed to be in a generous mood, and con-
seQuently more likely now than at any
other time to listen to such an appeal as
Mr. Mccormick has made.
The basis of the Ambassadors acuon IS
found in what is known as the Goldfogle
resolution, adopted at the recent session Oh
the House of Representatives
This requested the Secretary or state 10
inform the House whether American cltl-
gems of Jewish religious faith holding
American passports are barred from hus.
STA and whether the Russian government
discriminates between American cltlzens
attempting to visit Russia with American
passports and further whether the Rus
sian government has made special regu-
lations applying to American citizens, ma
tive or naturalized. of Jewish faith holding
American passports.
In his reply to the House, Secretary Hay
said emphatically that American Jews are
not Disseminated against by Russia nor
are they at a greater disadvantage In thae
country than are the Jews in other coun-
tries. The Secretary said that were this
otherwise the State Department would I'M
mediately protest as to the standing OF
naturalized citizens In Russia. The Secre-
tary pointed to a report on this subject by
Secretary Oiney in 1896. wherein that Sec
rotary stated that for a number Of years
back the United States had been persist
emily endeavoring to obtain for its citizens.
native and naturalized. and irrespective of
faith. equality Of treatment stipulated for
all American citizens in Russia by existing
treaties. Then he says:
Doctrine Of Perpetual Allegiance.
Holding to the old doctrine Of per-
petual allegiance; refusing to lessen its
authority by concluding any treaty recog-
ing the naturalization of a Russian sub
ject without prior imperial consent; as
sorting the extreme right to punish a
naturalized Russian on return to his ma
tive jurisdiction. not merely for unau-
thortzed emigration, but also specifically
for the unpermitted acquisition Of a for
efgn citizenship. and sedulously applying,
at home and through the official acts Of
Its agents abroad to all persons Of the
Jewish belief the stern restrictions en-
Joined by Russian law, the government
OF Russia takes ground not admitting of
acqu1escence by the United States. be-
cause at variance with the character of
our institutions. the sentiments of our
people. the provisions of our statutes and
the tendencies Of modern international
comfy.
Under ths3e circumstances conflict be-
tween national laws each absolute within
the domestic sphere and imperative be-
yond 1T is hardly to be averted"
State Departments Position.
Secretary Hay added that the position of
the State Department had not changed
since Secretary Olney's note was written,
and it's efforts to secure uniform treatment
Tor American citizens in Russia have con-
tinued, although, said the Secretary, they
have not been attended with encouraging
success
The State Department is now sending to
all persons of Russian birth who receive
passports an unofficial notice showing wha t
are the conditions of Russian law liable to
affect them, in order that they may not in
cur danger through ignorance.
At the same time the department ex-
pressly states that 1t does not in any degree
abate it's intention of protecting equally
naturaliZed and native-born Americans
travelling abroad, nor does the notice miti-
gate the departments strong dissent from
the Russian regula ton.
So this last effort initiated by Ambassa-
dor Mccormick using the Goldfogle resolu-
ton as basis is in strict conformity with
the established policy which the Depart
ment OF State has pursued for many years
of contending at all times and seasons that
1t cannot recognize any distinction in citi-
Zenship as between naturaliZed and native
born citizens, though, SO far, it has made
no impression upon the Russian govern
ment. and has, indeed, made only some
small degree of progress with some other
European nations through exhibition Of
m hQi art