Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-30

The story of the fight which eliminated
in the serving of notice to the RUSSIAN
government Of the intention Of the United
States to abrogate the treaty of 1872 Is
one of unusual interest in the history of
American diplomacy. 1t is story that
goes back perhaps fifty years, yet 1t
reached the acute stage within a month
Of the time of its elimination. The senu-
ment which resulted in it's abrogation was
solidfied through a series of public mass
meetings held in all or the important
cities of the country
At these meetings prominent men of
every religious belief protested earnestly
against an American citizen being humil-
lated by an inquisition regarding his re-
ligious belief, since religious freedom is
one of the fundamental principles of this
nation. 1t has been asserted that since
our Constitution does not recognize re-
ligious distinctions an insult to an Ameri-
can Hebrew is an insult to the nation of
which he is a citizen.
X X
The treaty of 1S32, upon which is based
the relations between the United States
and Russia. was negotiated
Treaty Of by James buchanan, minis
,ooo ter to Russia under Presi-
Aoo"' dent Andrew Jackson. At
that time Russia was less harsh toward
her own Jewish people. there were COM
few Jews in the United States,
and no one thought of the possible neces-
sity for any special provision in the treaty
bearing upon the question of religious be-
lief Its object was stated in one para
graph, which recited:
There shall be between the territories
of the high contracting parties a recipro-
cal liberty of commerce and navigation.
The inhabitants Of the respective states
shall mutually have liberty to enter the
ports, places and rivers of the territories
of each party, wherever foreign commerce
is permitted They shall be at liberty to
sojourn and reside in all parts whatsoever
of said territory in order to attend TO
their affairs, and they shall enjoy, TO that
effect, the same security and protection
as natives of the country wherein they
reside, on condition of their submitting to
the laws and ordinances there prevailing
and particularly to the regulations IN
force concerning commerce..
While the United States, it is claimed,
performed all the provisions OF
the treaty, the Russian government has
repudiated, upon religious
grounds, the rights of American citizens
to enter that territory as provided by
the treaty There are only four countries
in Europe requiring a passport for ad-
mission These are Bulgaria. Roumania.
Turkey and Russia. Russia is the only
one that refuses to recognize any pass
port issued by the American government,
or that attempts to question the holder
thereof regarding a matter which the
of the United States holds TO
he entirely an individual affair.
:: :.
ANY person desiring to visit Russia
must have passport issued by the De-
partment of State of this
Censorship of government. but before it
can be used it must he
IaSSpoito. Vised by a Russian con-
sui or by the Russian ambassador in
Washington Before the signature which
.ises the passport can be given, certain
1uestions must be answered. One Of these
S: What is your religion?' l. the
space for the answer to this question
S left blank, or if the applicant fer the
passport rms that he is Jew OF an
atheist, the instructions of the Russian
prohibit the officer from aftix-
ng his signature TO the passport. In this
way it is attested that large number
If American citizens have been denied
admission to Russia.
II is claimed also that admission to
Russia has been denied to American citi-
.ens who are not of Jewish faith. Catho-
ic priests and Protestant missionaries
are also under the ban of exclusion. Com
plants have been made to the Depart
nent of State that Baptist ministers were
'efused admission, and DIR. Robert Stuart
Macarthur Of New York. president Of tho
Worlds Baptist Alliance, is now prepaR-
ne to make visit to Russia for the