The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-28
ENVOY BELITTLES
PASSPORT DEMAND
Rockhill Said to Oppose Press
ing Russia for Settle
ment.
.AAMMoND's BIG INTERESTS
Purposes Irrigating Transcaspian
District for Growing Of
Cotton.

New York. November 2T.-Hetmnn
bernstein. the author. has issued q
statement through tho American Jew
ish Committee. in which he makes pub
NC Tor the first time. he says. the inter-
View he had with United States Ambus-
sador Rockhill at ST. Petersburg II
was on this. interview. the statement
sayH, that Jacob II. Schir based his
charges against Ambassador Rockhill
and John Hays Hammond during a
recent speech on the passport question.
MIR. Bernstein says.
About q week ago Mr. Jacob II.
Schln made u statement to tho effect
that while President Tart was proniis-
ing delegation after delegation that
everything would be done by the de-
pnrtmcnt of state to settle the passport
question. Ambassador Rockhill had de-
ciared that he considered thu matter
Of no great Importance.
ifn,nniund After Concessions.
Mr.. Schir also stated that Mr. John
Hays Hammond went 10 Russia for the
purpose OF securing certain concessions
and commercial contracts In Russia,
ana that Wilonkin. Russian financial
agent. told Mr.. Schin that Mr.. Ham
mond was chosen as tho head of the
syndicate because he was a friend OF
the President.
not convincing. in his reply, and 10
provo hfs case he published cable
gram from the Russian agent, Wil.n-
KIN, and letter he (Hammond) him
sclf had sent to Wilenkin last April.
The charge that MIR. Hammond sub
United TO Russia q proposition to irri-
gate the transcaspian region for the
purpose OF growing cotton there and
competing with the United States re-
mains unanswered By Sir. Hammond.
Last spring, when l was in ST
Petersburg. ] had several lengthy con-
vcrs2tionB with Ambassador Rockhill,
In which he smoke TO me frankly about
the passport question. and in which ne
showed not only that he did not take
The American view OF the question, but
beiittled Il as of no consequences. Mr.
Rockhili knew that was studying
conditions in Russia that was inter-
Gated In the passport question, and that
wanted 10 find out what was actually
being done In the matter. Mr.. Rockhlll
knew that had discussed the passport
question with some OF the foremost men
In Russia. such as Count Witte. the for
mer Prime Minister OF Russia; Profes-
sor Maxine Kovnlevsky, member OF the
Council OF tho Empire; Professor Milu-
kon. member OF the Duma; the present
fFime Minister kokoytsor and others.
state Department Version.
llsh my interviews with Mr.. RockhnI,
though I wrote them out Immediately
after 1 had mot him. did not publish
them. and would not have published
them II the State Department had not
siven out the following sent -otfi cinl
statement November Is:
Ono OF the Assistant Secretaries of
the state Department said to-day that
Tor years this government has been
making every effort to better the con-
dition OF the Jews In Russia; also TO
have Russia recognize the passports o,
American Jews. This official said that
President Taft had gone further than;
any other Executive.
He declared that the government
OF Russia--the Gear and his advisers
mad recommended to the Duma the alb
rogation OF the treaty with the United
States. promulgated and accepted III
1892. but that that body refused to ac-
cept this recommendation. The Rus
Sian Duma has steadily refused, this
Official said. TO grant any Jewish re-
forms in Russia which the Cars off,
ciai family recommended.
president Taft and Secretary Knox
instructed Ambassador Rockhill and
Ambassado Guild to do their utmost
TO change Russie's attitude toward
American Jews, according to the White
House.
"'At the State Department It was
said that Jacob H. Schif had been
misinformed about the governments
attitude In behalf of the Jews
Interview With RockhilI.
"In view OF the above statement and
the promises made by the President
and State Department on numer-
Gus occasions, 1t is interesting and
important to know what Ambassador