Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-12-20
MuSU UNDERSTA CAUSED
ABROGATION OF TREATY

T. L
accepted in an equable spirit the no.
tification Of the American ambassa-
dor that the treaty Of commerce and
navigation entered into by the Unit
ed States and Russia in 1882, would
be abrogated on January /, 1918, Of
hcials of the Russian government are
now directing their attention to the
question of new treaty.
II is recognized that diplomacy OF
the most experienced kind will be re-
quired especially on the American
side, if negotiations for new treaty
are TO proceed satisfactorily.
Agitation IN the United States over
/ The passport question and the briei
| term available for diplomatic action
present difficulties to the full and
/ free discussion of the subject.
1t is pointed out by Russian Off
cials that the governments hands are
! tied by statutes that cannot be chang
I ed outside Of the legislative machin-
| cry Of the duma and the council OF
/ the empire as constituted in 1906. The
/ whole question in their opinion
seems to be dominated by misunder-
standing Of the treaty OF 1892, which
makes no reference to passports.
/ Article /, of this treaty provides for
/ the free entry of all American citi-
zens on the sole condition that they
observe the internal laws of the en-
/ pire. The stipulation Is reproduced in
all treaties with other powers. There
1 fore there has been no question Of in
! fringement Of the treaty but actually
/ one of modification Of the internal
statutes which can be done only by
legislative means.
Further, 1t is argued If q passport
/ statute had been originally enacted
or if the question of passports was
merely one of relations between the
! United States and Russia, this ques-
tion might be a matter for diplomat
| ic negotiation But the Russian stat
utes having reference to the Jews dc
| not concern American Jews alone but
all foreign Jews.
| A concession TO the United states
would mean a concession to all Other
countries having Jewish subjects.
Russia, the officials say, has nc
| wish for bargain and they ask
i what can America concede to Rus
sia for the abolition of Jewish leeis
lation %
In responsible quarters the opin-
ion is expressed that the political sit
uation in Russia proper is not favor.
able to the realization Of Jewish
hopes,
ii is likely that Premier Kokosoyof
personally sees no harm in conces
sions to foreign Jews and a mildel
policy at home with respect to tina
Il race, but other elements in the Rus
sian government are differently dis
. | te
the duma and the council Of the em
pire which have solid majoritie
against any weakening Of Russia
latitude Indeed Russia herself, face
legislative elections, which will b.
held in 1913 and the dominant cr'
is one of nationalism.
In parliamentary circles here tn
prevailing comment is characterized
by astonishment that the American
government has responded SO readil.
to the Jewish outcry. The opinion /
expressed by members of the dum'
that in all probability the Jews vii
now attempt to force matters further
American business men in ST Pet
ersburg and Moscow have been tol
! lowing the situation with great inter
est and depression prevails anon
T them al the prospect Of the loss o
the market alta time when it wa
2 opening most fayorably.
The Rech representing liberal opin
s ion. advises tho government To fol
low the advice of the Nationalist
thunderers" but to address itself I
the task Of new negotiations circum
specify keeping in mind the heritag
/ of the traditional friendship betNee
Russia and the United States