New-York tribune., 1910-06-11
HANNERSTE|N SILENT
His Son Has Received No Cable
Dispatches from Him.
LAWYER ISSUES STATEMENT
Edwin B. Root Gives Out History
of Attempt to Get Mana
gers Passport Vised.

Regarding the reported refusal of the
Russian government to allow Oscar Ham
merstein to cross its borders, William Ham
merstein, his son, said yesterday that he
had received no cable dispatches from his
father concerning the matter. But he gave
out a statement prepared by his fathers
LAWYER. Edwin B. Root, which included
comics Of important letters bearing on the
situation. The statement reads in part:
AT tho time of Mr. Hammersteins de-
ma rture for Europe he obtained from the
Secretary of State at Washington an Amer
lean passport, having in mind visiting Rus-
sIa ~ look over the Russian ballet at ST.
Petersburg. According to the custom IN
such cases, this passport had to be VlSea
by the Russian consular agent at Ihe IN
mediate point of departure for the Russian
frontier. In accordance with this ruling
the passport was presented on May ., lyIO'
to the Russian consular agent at London
by, WT Hamnerstein's attorney. Edwin b.
Root The agent refused to wise the pass
port without special PERMISSION from tne
Minister Of the Interior at ST. Peterspurg,
the rule governing the action or RUSSIAN
consular agents being that the passport .!
no one of the Jewish faith should be Tised
unless he be a menber OF OF pEeI,tms D a,,,ns3
was then referred from the office or the
Russian Consul General in LONDON to 81
Petersburg for this permission. NO repiy
was received to this request, and upon ms
return from England, on May 70. Mr.. ROOT
laid the matter before the Secretary OF
State in Washington. who sent the follow
ing cable message to the American Elm
bassy at St. Petersburg;
Oscar Hammerstein, operate manager,
not native Of Russia apPpe9 ey relgSFf Ministrv
of Interior, that Russian Consui General az
london be permitted to wise his American
passport. Inquire what action was taken
and do whatever proper. T. G. kNOA-
on June / the Minister of Foreign AZ
fairs of Russia refused request to wise
Charge d. 'Affaires at St. Petersburg and the
Russian Consul General at London. On be-
half Of Mr.. Hammerstein Mr.. Root at once
protested to the Secretary Of state az
Washington against the action taken by
the Russian government, and demanded
reconsideration and reversal thereof ana
the granting of permission TO wise the
Article I of the treaty between the
United States and Russia governing the
admission of citizens to the territories OF
the respective countries provides that
there shall be between the territories or
the high contracting parties a reciprocal
liberty of commerce and navigation. The
inha bitants of their respective states shali
mutually have liberty to enter the ports
places and rivers OF the territories OF u eaon HI
mitted They shall be at liberty to sojourn
and reside in all parts whatsoever OF said
territories in order to attend to their af-
fairs. and they shall enjoy. to that effect,
the same security and protection as natives
of the country wherein they reside. on con-
ordinances there prevailing, and particu
larly to the regulations in force concerning
commerce.
Herman Bernstein, the novelist and play
wright, at the Lipzin Theatre, on the Bow
cry. last night gave out the following
statement regarding the situation:
The news that Mr.. Hammerstein has been
refused admission to Russia proves once
more that the Russian government is as
stupid as it is cruel. Some time ago there
occurred an incident which demonstrated
this still more vividly. Jacob II. Schif, the
Jewish banker. wanted to go to Russia
about a year ago, when Won Plehve was
ruling Russia with an iron hand. A letter
was sent to q high official to ascertain
whether the Russian government would
permit Mr.. Schff to enter Russia. The di-
rector Of the Police Department Of the Rus
sian Empire brought the letter to Won
Plehve explaining to him the importance
of Mr.. Schiff in the financial world. but
Won Plehve refused to admit Mr. Schiff.
Now that the new OutrageS in Russia
directed against the Jews are attracting
much attention, and that various resolu
tions are being adopted condemning the
cruelty of the Russian government be-
leve that It would be proper and effective
to raise the passport question in no gncer-
tain terms. -