Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16
Jews Want Equal Rights.
Objected to Proviso in State Department An
nouncement Regarding Passports to Russia
for Jews and Change Is Made.

Adee in his note to the legation at ST.
Petersburg. july >, 1895:
- The Russian government cannot eX-
pect that its course in asserting inquisi-
torial authority in the United States over
citizens of the United States, as to their
religious or civic status. can ever be ac-
ceptable or even tolerable TO such a gov
eminent as ours. and continuance in
such course after our views have been
clearly and considerably made known may
! trench upon the just limits of consider
alton.
Now. however. there seems to have oc-
CURED a reversal of a tirle-honored pol
! icy. and ii is our government that seeks
to indulge in these inquisitorial practices
and apply unconstitutional religious
test to upward of million of our own
citizens. not only naturaliZed. but native
born. thus practically justifying Russia in
the violation of her treaty obligations and
condoning her contemptuous disregard OF
the American passport.
Relieving that the PRONUNCIATION to
which your attention has been directed is
the result of inadvertence. you are re-
specially requested to reconsider the sub
ject. and to cause the circular letter to be
withdrawn
The letter of Secretary Root in reply, as
given out. is as follows:
Il have received your letter of February
1. 1905, In which You quote from a de-
partment circular of May %. 1907 relating
to the issue of passports to Jews intend
ing to enter Russian territory. and in
which you request that the subject oe
this circular be reconsidered and the cir
cular be withdrawn.
The circular has its origin i'm the fact
that there is no natura liZation treaty be-
tween the United States and Russia. SO
that a naturalized citizen of the United
States going to Russia is subjected to
Russian laws, which treat the naturaliza-
ton and return of native as a criminal
the effect of United States passport has
been. not to protect the persons return
ing to Russia. but rather to mislead them
into ignorantly subjecting themselves to
hardship and imprisonment in reliance
upon a document which does not really
protect them.
In the meantime the department has
been endeavoring and is endeavoring to
secure from Russia a naturaizati ton treaty
which will practically dispose of the diff
Guilty.
Before your letter was written how
ever. my attention was called to the at
that this reference to the discrimination
made by Russia was deemed to be objec-
tionable by those to whom you referred,
and the circular was accordingly with
drawn and another substituted in its
place. copy of which / inclose.
Should you see anything objectionable
in the circular which Is now in use.
should be very glad to be advised of it,
| The circular referred to reads as fol-
| lows: Notice to American citizens for
merry subjects of Russia who contem-
plate returning to that country:
Under Russian law a Russian subject
who becomes citizen of another country
without the consent of the Russian gov
eminent is deemed to have committed an
offense Cor which he is liable to arrest
and punishment If he returns without pre-
viously obtaining the permission of the
Russian government.
This government dissents from this
provision of Russian law. but an Ameri-
can citizen formerly a subject of Russia
who returns to that country places him.
self within the jurisdiction of Russian law
and cannot expect immunity from its
operations
mo one is admitted to Russia unless his
passport has been vised or Endorsed by
Russian diplomatic or consular represent
alive"