The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-27
tConLinued From Page Nlnel

agreeable to this country if a new
treaty could be negotiated to replace
the ancient document
Despite this overture to the Rus
sian government, state department Of
fcials tonight practically admitted
there is little hope of negotiating a
new treaty that would avoid the
things that were leading to the renun-
citation of the old one,
State Department Opinions.
State department officials do not
believe the heavy trade between the
United States and Russia necessarily
would be jeopardized by the abroga-
ton of the treaty, although a tariff
war is possible and Russia would have
the right to exclude American ships
from her ports.
American imports from Russia APP
proximate $14OOO,OOO "A year, princi-
pally in hides, wool and skins, The
balance of Russian trade in favor of
the United States, however, is SOL,
100000.
The foreign relations committee
was in session nearly three hours to-
day, but the only points discussed
were whether the House should be
considered in the matter and whether
the Senate should act in open session.
1t was decided to recognize the
House by making the resolution rati-
flying the Presidents action a joint
one, and it further decided to debate
the matter in the open. Later in the
Senate Senator Hepburn protested
against this decision, declaring the
matter should be taken up in execu-
tive session.
Senator Lodge prepared the resolu-
ton of ratification, which the commit
tee approved, and followed the text of
the Presidents note to Russia in the
diplomacy of its expressions. There
was no suggestion of a violation of
treaty pledges as in the House docu-
ment.
/ State department officials believe
the problem presented is insoluble
and that the only way Russo-Ameri-
can commerce can be placed upon tho
treaty basis will be through the com
/ plete omission from the new treaty of
any matter of residence and travel
This would fail to improve the con!
/ ditiOns complained of.
Russian Views Pessimistic.
ST. PETERSBURG, December 10
Having accepted in an equable spirit
the notification of the American EN-
bassador that the treaty of commerce
and navigation entered into by the
United States and Russia in 1882
would be abrogated on January l.,
/ 1913, officials of the Russian Govern
ment are now directing their atten-
ton to the question of a new treaty
1t is recognized that diplomacy Of
the most experienced kind will be re-
quired, especially on the American
side if negotiations for a new treaty
are to proceed satisfactorily.
Agitation in the United States over
the passport question and the brief
term available for diplomatic action
present difficulties to the free and full
discussion on the subject.
1t is pointed out by Russian officials
that the Governments hands are tied
by statutes that can not be changed
outside of the legislative machinery
of the Duma and the Council of the
empire, as instituted in 1906. The
whole question, in their opinion,
seems to be dominated by a misun-
derstanding of the treaty of 1892,
which makes no reference to pass
ports.
Article | of this treaty provides for
the free entry of all American citi-
zens on the sole condition that they
observe the internal laws of the en-
pire. This stipulation is reproduced
in all treaties with other powers.
Therefore, there has been no ques-
ton of infringement of the treaty, but
actually one of a modification of the
internal statutes which can be done
only by legislative means.
Involves Other Nations.
Further, it is argued, if the pass.
ports involved merely the relations
between the United States and Rus
STA, this question might be matter
for diplomatic negotiation, But the
Russian statutes having reference to
the Jews do not concern American
Jews alone, but all foreign Jews. a
concession to the United States would
mean a concession to all other coun,
tries having Jewish subjects,
Russia, the officials say has no
wish for a bargain, and they ask
What can America concede to Russia
for the abolition of Jewish legisla-
tion?"
In responsible quarters the opinion