Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-02-14
WILL STRIKE AT
CRUELTY OF RUSSIA
Uncle Sam May AbFOgatG the
Treaty With Gar

Washington, Feb. 1S.-Declaring hi
conviction that the United State.
should no longer be a party to a treaty
which is construed by Russia to en-
title it to discriminate against Ameri
can Jews, Representative Herbert Par
sons, of New York, introduced in The
House a Joint resolution providing fol
the termination of the treaty of 1881
between the United States and Russia
This is the principal treaty between
the two countries 1t provides for re-
ciprocal liberty of commerce and navi-
| cation and provides in its first section
that all Americans are to be allowed
to sojourn and reside in Russia and
attend to their business there just as
Russians are But Russia is not living
up to the terms of the treaty and has
placed a special construction upon it
so as to exclude American Jews from
visiting Russia. This discrimination
was not attempted in the beginning,
but has been in force for many years,
and recently Russia indicated that she
would not consent to allow Oscar Ham
merstein, the New York opera impress
ario, to visit that country because of
his race and religion.
Some time after the treaty was ne
gotiated Russia took the position that
the clause which says the same author
ity and protection shall be enjoyed by
Americans as is enjoyed by natives Of
Russia, says Mr. Parsons, meant that
Russia could exclude American Jews
from travelling in Russia, because #
Russia's restrictions against the Jews.
The treaty was concluded by James
Buchanan, when Andrew Jackson was
President. Neither of them, of course,
ever dreamed it meant any such thing"
Mr. Parsons calls attention to the
fact that Edward Everett, when Secre-
tary of State, said Russia might be ex7
pected to grant Americans free en-
trance into the country which the cit
liens of civilized states usually enjoy
by courtesy of nation. In 1879 the
House of Representative issued a res
olution, in regard to this treaty of 1882
declaring that the rights Of citizens If
the United States should not be impair
ed at home or abroad on account of re-
ligious beliefs and that if Russia was
discriminating on such grounds the.
President be asked to have the treaty
amended to remedy the grievance.
Blain's and Evarts, when Secretaries
of State, vigorously pushed the matter
the latter declaring that "the United
States concluded its treaties for the
equal protection Of all classes of Am
erican citizens, and could make no dis
elimination between them, whatever
their origin or creed"
Seven years ago the House passed a
resolution asking President Roosevelt
to renew negotiations in the matter. 1t
was taken up by Ambassador McCor-
mick. Russia has parlayed, but has
done nothing Mr.. Parsons thinks now
the time has come when the treaty |
should be abrogated. His resolution
provides that President Taft gives no
tice to the Russian Government that
the treaty of 1882 will terminate and
be Of no force upon the expiration OF
the year which shall commence after
the date of such notification The Par
sons resolution was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Representatives of the three leading
Jewish organizations of the country
will have a conference at the White
House next Wednesday with President
Taft. Secretary Nagel and a represen-
tatiye of the State Department to take
up the question as to whether the
treaty with Russia should not be abro-
gated The organizations which will
be represented will be the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, theI
Independent Order of B'nai Birth and
the American Jewish Committee.