The Washington times., 1908-12-31

Will Insist Upon Proper
Treatment for Jews From
This Country.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

y -
AUGUSTA, Ca. Dee 5l--When Phil
..ndcr G.. Knox becomes Secretary Of
State and begins 10 carry out the for
eign policies Of William Howard Taft,
he win be confronted with two great
diplomatic tasks.
one will be the making Of a treaty
with Russia 10 guarantee that the gov
ernment Of the Car viii accord 10 Jew
ish citizens Of the United States proper
treatment when they are travelling IN
Russia under the protection Of pass
ports signed by the Chief Executive OF
this nation.
The other viii be TO frame a treaty
TO settle definitely and permanently the
much discussed question Of Asiatic i'm
migration into the United States
These are two topics which viii be
discussed at length between Mr.. Knox
and Mr.. Taft wLnn the new Secretary
OF State arrives in Augusta next week.
II will be seen in the inaugural ad-
dress Of lIr. Taft that he is determined
on a viriIe, direct. and unclouded policy
toward all foreign countries. There is
no project dearer 10 his heart in this
connection than the insuring that every
citizen Of the United States and her
dependencies. without regard to color or
creed, shall be absolutely safe and free
from moIestation when travelling on for
eigu soil. under the protection Of Amer
lean passports
From time 10 time for several years,
complaints have come To the State De
partment that Jews travelling in Russia
we're not treated with that respect
which was due them as citizens of this
country. Stories Of abuse and annoy
auces of many kinds have frequently
found their way to the ears Of the
authorities, and such a situation is one
which appeals 10 the President-elect as
contrary to American ideals and Insti-
tutions.
Guarantee of Protection.
It is for this reason that Mr. Knox
will be confronted with the work Of
obtaining from the Cars government
a pledge that such indignities shall be
no longer put upon any citizens Of this
country. Russia Is a nation with which
the United States is on friendly terms.
1t is also the country which. above
all others. is hostile TO the Jew. In
getting from the Gar therefore. a
promise that the abuses complained Of
/ shall cease, Mr. Knox win have to put
/ through a fine piece Of work In II
I he will contend with the unreasoning
prejudice Russia entertains against the
Hebrew people. and he will have to deal
I with it in such a manner as not 10
arouse the hostility OF the Russian gov
ernment. He viii have to frame an
agreement Of such a definite and clear
nature that hereafter a Jew, on Russian
soil, with an American passport, shall
be entirely unmOlested and shall be
/ accorded every consideration that would
/ be given TO any other citizen under
I similar conditions
! The next task viii be the continuance
! of the restriction Of Asiatic immigra-
/ ton TO this country by diplomatic ne
/ gotiations. This policy has already
] been inauguTated by Roosevelt and
Root. but. as time goes on, 1t is fully
! evpected that il Will grow into a more
! never consent to letting in the Asiallcs
/ i'm any greater numbers than are now
/ the rule, and his advisers hold that tie
time may soon come when ii will be
/ necessary to limit them even more than
! is now the case
Subsidy to Steamships.
! There are two other propositions
/ which he Will encourage as logical parts
! Of the plan to maintain the prestige OF
this country in all its dealings with the
1 world. one is the granting of a subsidy
10 steamship lines between Atlantic
/ norts and South America. between Pa
! cific ports and the Oriental countries
| As things stand now on tie Pacific sea
/ board. all that shipping is apt TO go
/ into the hands of the japanese, and il
! Continued on Thiro Page.)