New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-13
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, April H.
THE RUSSIAN TREATY.-The Ameri-
can Ambassador at st. Petersburg has ad-
vised the Department OF State that 1t
would be highly impoltic to denounce the
treaty with Russia of 1892 with view to
securing juster treatment of American
Jews. giving among numerous reasons the
following: Such denunciation would create
bad feeling and gravely hamper the efforts
of those who are seeking to effect an ameli-
Grafton of the conditions. 1t would cause
serious hardship to many American Jews
from Russia. because 1t would deprive
them of the rights of property inheritance,
etc, in Russia which they now enjoy IL
would work serious commercial injury TO
the United States. without producing any
beneficial results an offset thereto.
There is reason TO believe that the Russian
government is favorably disposed toward
the representations of the United States.
but is deferred for the present from grant
ing the demands of this government by
the hostile attitude of the Douma. the pop
ular parliament. which has more than once
demonstrated its unwiilingness to permit
any notifications affecting favoraby per-
sons of the Jewish race, as notably in us
prompt protest against an order OF Premier
Stolypin modifying the without the pale
regulatons-an order highly desirable from
the point of view of Russia herself in the
war with Japan. In all matters OF admin
istration the Russian government Is dis
posed 10 go as far as liberal construction
Of the laws will permit 10 do justice TO
American Jews, but beyond that II has
thus far been unable to go because of the
hostility of the people and of their repre-
sentatives in the Douma. Moreover as has
been told in this column. the situation is
complicated by the demands of Jews OF
German and Austrian nationality. The de-
mands Of the United States could not be
granted in the case of American Jews I'M
less similar treatment should be accorded
TO those of German and Austrian national
ity. Modification of the existing proscrip-
ton would, according to the Russian au-
thorities inevitably result in considerable
ingress Of Jews from neighborng coun-
tries and such ingress. in view of the hos
tlity of the Russian people to the He
brews. would he followed by outrages and
perhaps by massacres which would enrase
the entire civilized world. The Russian au-
thorities contend that the regulations they
are obliged to impose in the case of Jews
are neither racial nor religious. but eco
! nomic They submit that the Russian
peasant is no more capable Of competing
with the Jewish business man than Amer
| lean laborers on the Pacific Coast are able
to compete with Japanese labor, and that
under these circumstances. it would be as
haza rdous to admit Jews to Russia as it
would he to throw down the bars to Jap
anese desiring to enter California and other
| Pacific Coast states The President and
/ the Secretary Of State have far from aban-
doned hope of securing just treatment OF
/ American Jews by diplomatic methods. but
/ they are convinced that the denunciation
! of the existing treaty. as demanded by the
/ Sulzer, the Culberson and the Allen reso-
lutions. would be inimcal TO. rather than
promouve of. their efforts
TRIUMPH OF CANDOR.--The alac-
rity with which Republicans and Democrats
alike members Of the committees of both
houses Of Congress which have to do with
+ foreign affairs, sprang forward TO deny the
sensational reports from the City of Mexico
alleging that discovery Of secret treaty
with Japan had prompted the mobilization
Of the troops along the Mexican border
/ clearly demonstrates the wisdom of Presi-
/ dent Taft's course in awaiting himself
/ of the first opportunity TO acquaint the
/ members OF these committees with the
| reasons for that step. Reasonable people
| will be convinced by the statements Of such
men as Senator Stone. Senator Bacon. Rep
| re sentative Foster and others that Japan
was not factor in the Mexican equation.
precisely as reasonable members of Con-
gress have become convinced that the
President acted wisely and well in sending
the troops 10 Texas. There have been, of
course. a few who have criticised President