Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-07
PRESIDENT CAN SEE NO WAY
To Move for Protection of Jews from
Massacre in Russia.

Massacre in Russia.
Washington. Nov. G.-President
Roosevelt has decided that no action
can be taken by this government at
present which will be of any benefit to
the Jews of Russia. This information
was made public at the White House,
today, in the following statement:
Oscar Straus called upon the Presi-
dent, this morning, not to ask him for
action but to consult with him as to
whether there was any possibility of
action which would result in a cessa-
ton of the horrors connected with the
massacre of the Jews in Russia. The
President stated that, of course, he had
been watching with the deepest concern
the reports of these massacres; that he
had been appealed to within the last
few weeks to try to take some action
not only in behalf of the Jews in Rus
STA but III behalf of the Armenians.
Poles and Firms. The result of the
Presidents inquiries coincide with
statements printed in a cabegram
from Count White to Jacob H. Schiff.
shown the President by Mr.. Straus, as
follows:
The government is Mortified at
these outrages. You know that l do
not sympathize with such savage out
breaks. All l can do to stop the dis
orders is done. but as the country is in
such unsettled state. the local authori-
ties are often powerless.
I'm the conditions Of social disorder
which actually exist in Russia. the
President does not see that any action
can be taken by this government at
present which will be of any benefit to
the unfortunate sufferers for whom we
feel such keen sympathy"
Among the communications which
the President referred to in the above
statement as seeking his intervention
in behalf Of the Jews in Russia. was
one from Simon Wolf of this city. pres
ident of the Jewish order of RNail
Birth. Mr.. Wolf had received urgent
appeals from prominent Jews through
out the country and Europe to exert
himself with the authorities here to Sc
cure some action by the American gov
crnment that would tend II protect the
Jews Of Russia from the mobs which
the press reports showed We're hunting
them down. Among the communica-
lions was one from Rabbi B. L. Leren-
thaler Of Philadelphia, and Mr.. Wolf
singled this out for a reply expressive
of his own views as to the powers of
the United States government in this
matter. This letter in substance he
repeated to Sec. Root in a short note
dated about the middle of last week.
The text of this letter follows:
"Your telegram reached me late, Sat
urday evening, and Of course l could
do nothing, yesterday. Prior to the re-
ceipt thereof. I had already written to
the secretary of state. Hon. Elihu Root.
in regard to the outrages perpetrated
on our co-reliei onists in Russia. l was
eminent is practically powerless to do
anything in the matter. Good Offices
under the circumstances elementary.
for unfortunately the government of
Russia itself is in no condition TO pro-
tect it's own citizens. The condition at
this juncture is anomalous. The Gear.
inspired by Count White and compelled
by circumstances over which he has no
control has yielded to the demands of
the Russian people. A new era is dawn
ing and naturally excuses are the cir
cumstances of this evolution. 1t is de-
plorable and heartrending to realize
that our people. that as in so many in
stances in history, have to be the vic
tins of new conditions. but we must be
just although suffering. and concede
that out of this terrible slaughter and
turmoil the white-robed angel of peace
and justice will emerge and that the
citizens irrespective of faith or nation
ality. will be benefited thereby.
"Our government is sympathetic and
feels most keenly the position in which
our people are placed. but there are in
ternational laws that govern cases of
this character and because many Jews
have been the victims of mob violene
is no reason why the government of
Russia should be held responsible for
the immediate effect. OF course, if you
go back to the origin of things, then
we must hold the government RESPONSE
BILE, but we are not dealing with the
situation as it ought to be. but as it
wasting words, appeal to the Jews of
the United States for money and cloth
ing to send to our stricken co-religion-
lists to put them in a condition to help
themselves: and in that way will be
giving an object lesson to the civilized
nations which will again. as in so
many Instances, evidence our world HUI
mainly and our deathless devotion to
our stricken brethren"