Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-16
GEAR THREATENS
j. s. IF TREATY
IS DENOUNCED
Russia to Sever All Friendly
Relations if Sulzer ResO-
luton Passes.
SENATE is EXPECTED
TO MODIFY LANGUAGE
Protest Admitted After Long
Night Conference Between
President and Sec'y Knox.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-What in
diplomatic language is interpreted here
as practically threat by Russia to
sever all friendly relations with the
United States in the event that Con-
gress goes ahead with it's plan to abro-
gate the treaty of 1882 with that coun-
try, has been made to President Taft
and Secretary of State Knox by the
Russian ambassador, George Bakh-
meter.
Mr. Bakhmeteff protested against the
Sulzer resolution for the abrogation Of
the treaty on the ground that its final
adoption would be inconsistent with the
long friendship that has existed be-
tween the United States and Russia.
Owing to the reticence Of all con-
cerned in the negotiations it was i'm
possible today to learn the exact nature
of the protest. 1t is believed, however.
to have been directed principally
against the language of the Sulzer reso-
luton, which boldly declared that Rus
sia had violated the terms of the
treaty of 1892 When informed of this,
Mr.. Sulzer. chairman of the House COM
mittee on foreign relations, declared
that he saw nothing insulting to "sen-
sitive Russia" in his resolution and be-
lieved it would go through the Senate
without modification.
While neither the President nor Sec
retary Knox was alarmed today over
the turn of affairs, it was said at the
White House that a determined effort
would be made by Senate leaders to
modify the Sulzer resolution.
Expect Action Monday.
Action on the Russian treaty is
scheduled in the Senate for Monday
next, but it was indicated today that
consideration of the subject might be
delayed beyond that time. Meanwhile
President Taft and Mr.. Knox are con
tinuing diplomatic negotiations with
Russia both here and in st. Petersburg
through the American ambassador
there.
The Russian ambassadors protest
was made to Secretary Knox late last
night. Later the ambassador and Sec
retary Knox called at the White House
and took the matter up with the Pres
ident in a conference which extended
late into the night. Today the Secre-
tary of State and the President con-
sidered the matter for more than an
hour. and it was not until this confer
ence was ended that the matter became
public.
Russia Dissatisfied.
Mr.. Bakhmeteff let it be known that
Russia was decidedly dissatisfied with
the Sulzer resolution. President Taft
discussed the matter today with sew
eral of his callers, and it was from
senators who visited the White House
that Mr.. Taft learned that an effort
would be made to modify in the Senate
the Sulzer resolution as it came from
the House.
Following the conference between
Secretary Knox and the President to-
day the Russian ambassador called at
the state department and was closeted
for some time with the secretary. Both
the diplomat and the cabinet officer
denied that the situation was at all
serious, but would not discuss the de-
tails of the conference or of the call at
the White House in any way whatever.