The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
RUSSIA RESENTING
ATTITUDE OF U. S.
Not in Keeping with Our
Own Policy.
CITE CHINESE EXCLUSION
Cars Government Maintains 1t
Has the Right to Say Who Shall
Barred on Account of Religion.
Right to Exclude 'UnderEirabIeS.'

An authoritative presentation of the
views of the Russian government on the
Jewish passport question was obtained
here yesterday. In brief, it may be
summed up as follows: That the effort to
exert pressure on Russia, through the
movement expressed in the Sulzer resolu-
ton, is an unwarranted attempt on the
part of the United States to interfere
with affairs purely within the sole con-
troll of Russia and inconsistent with the
policy of the United States government
on questions regarded in st. Petersburg
as Identical.
The view of many officials in ST. Pc
tersburg IS that the United States has
placed itself outside the pale of internaT
tional law and even of civilized usage
among nations by its insistent efforts to
force the unqualified recognition of pass
ports issued by the United States TO
American Jews. The American demand
is especially resented because of the fact
that Great Britain, Germany, Austria
Hungary, and other nations in which the
Jewish question is much more irritating
to the government than in the United
States have accepted Russian regulation
of the Jews without question. Those
holding this opinion ask why the United
States cannot recognize Russian right to
pass upon Jews desiring TO enter Russia
from this country as the nations adjoin-
ing Russia have already done.
1t is also pointed out that Russia
doesn't bar Jews because of their relig-
ion. but because she maintains the
right 10 exclude all whom she classes
as ''undesirables." On this ground Rus
sia maintains her practice of excluding
missionaries representing any of the
Protestant faiths. and Catholic priests,
except those desiring merely to travel
Those intending to spread the propa-
ganda of their faith are absolutely bar
red from entrance into Russia or resi-
dence there.
United States Inconsistent.
The Russian government has studied
the question from the American side.
and is prepared to point out what Rus
slams believe to be Inconsistencies in
the demands of the United States Rus
sian officials are ready to cite in this
connection the exclusion of Chinese, of
Japanese, of polygamists and persons
considered undeslra BILE by reason of
criminal records. pauperism, or diseases
10y the United States. This government
they will point out, has never yielded
one jOt of its right to admit to the
United States whom it pleases, and bar
all persons not wanted.
The utteranCes of public officials of the
american government in this phase of the
situation have not escaped notice. and
are IN the hands of Russian officials TO
be used in answer to American demands
They have picked upon a paragraph of
a speech by Secretary of State Knox, in
which he spoke of the right of a nation
tC regulate immigration, as follows:
Every recognized tenet of interna-
tiOnal law would be against my proposal
by any nation which should question the,
L. .
more direct way can nations existence
be threatened than by introducing amor=
its citizens or subjects nonassimilable
peoples This is true not only OF those
classes dangerous to the political life of
a nation. but of those classes inimicaI TO
its social and economic welfare and de-
velopment. You touch here the very
vitals of organized society and govern
ment, which it is recognized nation may
protect at all hazards and at all costs,
Is the exclusion of peoples is a purely de-
fensiVe measure
The Russian officials also have in their
hands a magazine article in which Presi-
dent Taft, over his signature, is made
TO say that II is a fundamental of in
ternatonal law that every nation has
the inherent right to regulate the Ques-
tion of what people shall be admitted to
its domain.
Immigration Laws UnquestiOned.
Russia is also ready to argue that she
does not question the immigration laws
of the United States, and, therefore, the
United States should not attempt to force
Russia to yield rights which she feels are
equal to those exercised by this govern
ment. Russia will point out that among
her subjects she numbers polygamists
and Mongolians, both classes of peoples
excluded by the United States. And, it
is argued, Russia has never tried to force
the United States to admit any of her
subjects coming under this classification
1t is the feeling at st. Petersburg that
the agitation eliminating in the passage
of the Sulzer resolution does not repre-
sent the telling of the majority of the
American people The view is held there
that the Jews are exerting political pres
sure OF thus gaining the support of MEM
bers OF the House and Senate.
Members of the Senate who are coun-
selling caution in dealing with Russia
contend that IL this government offers
the Cars government a gratuitous offer
suit in terminating the treaty. the cir
cumstance is likely TO result in far
reaching consequences. For one thing,
IT will make 1t very difficult, these SEN
tors say, to negotiate a new commercial
treaty. American business interests in
Russia are important and there is a
feeling just at this time the United
States should 90 nothing to offend a
government whose friendly offices may
questions arising in the Far East SEN
Rtors add that II the action OF the United
States is unnecessarily harsh, a resent
ment may be aroused in Russia against
the Jews themselves which may bring
upon them unnecessary suffering.