The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-10-19
JEWISH FAITH
AS TO RUSSIA
Especially Question Of Adj
mission of Americans Dis
cussed by Roosevelt.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1s.-In an editor
ial article in the current issue Of the
Outlook entitled "a proper case for
arbitration" Theodore Roosevelt,
deals with the question Of the admis.
sion OF American citizens of Jewish
faith into Russia. After quoting por-
ton OF the treaty between the United
States and Russia of 1892, and re.
viewing briefly some facts of history
bearing on the question, Mr.. Roose.
welt says:
1T was right that no precipitate
action should be taken in this matter
and that every effort should be made,
as 1T has been rmade, to persuade
Russia voluntarily. and as a matter OF
frank and free action on her part, to
do as we request. But something
further should now be done.
1T is, of course, open to us to de-
LOUNGE the treaty OF 1892. and unless
an agreement can be reached In other
ways, such action. / am persuaded,
will become, and ought to be, inc
vitable. 1t is automatic that we
should not submit permanently to
the continuance of treaty when it
is construed according to a principle
which, II openly avowed at the time
OF its making, would have prevented
our people from even considering the
possibility OF making it. Under no
circumstances would We now make
with Russia or with any other Power
a treaty which explicitly permitted
such determinations as Russia ac-
tually makes against certain classes
of our citizens. This being so, the
treaty as Russia now CONSTITUTES it,
ought not 10 be and cannot be, con-
tinued.
"Eut before exercising our treaty
right 10 give notice OF the abrogation
OF the treaty because Of the dlsagres-
mont between ourselves and Russia
as TO the Interpretation OF the clause
in question 1t would be wise to seek
from some impartial neutral body
an authoritative construction of that
clause. Ordinarily the construction
OF treaty is. prominently matter
for arbitration, If the contracting
parties disagree as to its exact read
irg. Ordinarily such construction q
judicial act. Of the kind especially
suited fer putting before an arbItrai
court. Again and again In treaties
tits has been recognized by various
Powers. and Russia. both explicitly
and implicitly. recognized this when
she called the Hague conference and
took her part in constituting the
Hague International Tribunal. We
have the right now to ask that Rus
sla in this case specifically apply the
principles to which she unequvocally
committed herself by her action in
connection with the two Hague con-
ferences. There could be no more
desirable opportunity for information
al arbitration than that thus afforded
Before considering the question as
to whether the treaty shall be abro-
gated, let US find out Just exactly
what the treaty means. Surely Russia
cannot object to this, and Of course
If she should It would merely make
it clear that we had no alternative
except abrogation. The part of wis
dom would seem to be for the United
States to propose to Russia, before
considering the question as to whether
or not the treaty should be abrogated.
the desirability Of finding out exactly
what the treaty means, and OF doing
this by submitting to the Hague
Court Of Arbitration the clause ir
question with recital of all the at,
tendant circumstances, and asking thu
Judgment Of the court on the con
struction of the clause"