Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-08
RUSSIA NOT SCARED
Newspaper Treats the Sulzer
Proposition With Disdain.
is SEMI-OFFICIAL VIEW
Abrogation of Treaty Of 1882 Re-
garded as Most Injurious to the
United States.

ST. PETERSBURG, December S.-The
semi-off1cial Rossia- in two-column ed
itorial on Representative William Sulzer
proposal to abrogate the Russian treaty,
says:
The news is no surprise. as similar
motion was made in 1907 The prohibition
of foreign Jews irrespective of national
ity. from entering Russia, as well as Rus
sian Jews who emigrated without permits
sion, was established by law March %
and August IL. 1924. The Russo-American
treaty, eight years later, contains no pro-
vision with respect to modification. Of
the existing law in favor of American
Jews. American Jews err in supposing
that Russia has introduced new restric
lions with regard to them
Empowered to Wise Passports.
ION the contrary. Russian legislation of
1879 granted admission to certain Sc
ected categories. Regulations adopted
March %. 1891. empower the Russian con-
sui to wise passports of heads of business
firms, and also their commercial travellers.
representatives and clerks. without limita-
lion, with respect to admission to the
pale. and without preliminary sanction by
tho minister of the interior. The pass
ports of other Jews are vised with the
sanction of the minister of the interior.
Thus Jewish business men and all 9TH
ers engaged in an occupation which Is not
regarded undesirable may enter and re-
side in Russia for six months. But the
sovereign right not to admit undesirableS
cannot be disputed. and is exercised very
strictly by the United States itself.
Only Jews emigrating through the
agency of the Jewish Colonization Society
are permanently excluded, in accordance
with the rules Of March u. 1892. OF the |
eleven American Jews applying for wise |
during 1910 only three were rejected.
The laws for the readmission of for |
eign Jews cannot be changed as q result |
of demonstrations of groups of American |
Jews. nor as a result Of friendly repre- |
sensations on the part of the United |
States. The United States government, OF |
course. does not possess the right Of in
reference in the home affairs OF Russia
United States Would Suffer.
THE repeal Of the treaty of 1882 has
been suggested, but all the disadvantages
of such a step would fall upon the United
States. Russian customs statistics from
1895 to 1910 show that the Russian ex-
ports to America amounted to 41.OO0.OOo =
rubies $50, J00OOO and imports to 1885,
100000 rubles The figures in the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor at
Washington put the Russian exports at
1I0OH.C0O rubles and the imports at 221,-
C0O.GCO rubles
Furthermore, the American imports
into Russia are constantly growing. They
amounted to II, coo, 600 rubleS in 1905 and
13GO0.000 rubles in 1910.
1T is to be regretted If the traditional
friendly relations between true-born
Americans and Russians are disturbed.
The views of section of Congress are
not the views Of the entire population. l.
May the true-born Americans persuade
their new-coming fellow-citizens that the
interests of the Jewish element. which is
4 per cent of the population are not
identical with the interests of the entire
United States. and that bad peace with
Russia is preferable to a good quarrel,
even in the customs sphere"