New-York tribune., 1911-12-07
Governor Wilson Urges Diplomacy.

Governor Wilson Urges Diplomacy.
Governor Wilson expressed the opin-
ion that Russia might be influenced t.
live up TO the treaty Of 1892 when she
was made TO realize that the American
people were in earnest about il. lie ad-
vocated diplomatic and peaceful meth
ods TO bring this result about, but added
that the treaty should be abrogated un-
less Russia changed her attitude of dis
elimination against the passports Of
American Jews. He said.
If the explicit provisions of our present
agreement cannot be maintained We must
reconsider the matter i'm the light of altered
circumstances and see upon what terms. II
any. OF mutual homer our Intercourse may
be re-eStablished. The object of this meet
ing is not agitation. IL ls the statement OF
a plain case in sucn terms as may serve
TO arrest the attention of the nation with
regard to the matter which Is OF no mere
local importance. but which touches the
dignity of our government and the main
tenance of those rights of manhood which
that government was set up 10 Vindicate.
For more than forty years the obligations
Of tie treaty have been disregarded by
Russia in respect TO cur jewish tellow
citizens Our government has protested,
but after forty years of mere corresponds
ence the kuSSldn government ldlui dlIN
does not expect the matter to be carried
beyond protest to action. and so continues
to act as 1t pleases In this matter.
Governor Wilson said he did not fear
any commercial loss to this country il
the treaty was abrogated. The princi-
pie involved would outweigh any such
loss if it should be experienced. Con-
tinuing he said:
We are not willing to have prosperity.
however. II our fellow citizens must suffer
contempt for it or lose the rights that be-
long 10 every American in order that We
may enjoy 1t. The price Is too great. We
are not here TO express our sympathy with
our Jewish fellow citizens, but TO make
evident our sense OF identity with them.
This Is rot their cause; IL Is America 3
cause.
The means by which the wrongs we com
plain of may be set right are plain. There
Is no hostility in what We do toward the
Russian government. No man who takes
thought anything but purposes OF peace.
But the conquests of peace are based on
mutual respect We have observed the
obligations Of our treaty for forty years
longer. As soon as Russia fully under
stands 1t in that light the air will clear
There IL every reason why our intercourse
should be maintained and extended. but II
Bishop Greer said that the question
was a national one, though the Jews
were chiefly interested in it. He further
contended that it was a moral question,
country 10 Gee that Russia lived up TO
the treaty as 20 live up to it ourselves.
Clark Sees Only Abrogation Now.
Speaker champ Clark of the House
OF Representatives said that under the
existing circumstances there seemed
nothing left for this country to do except
abrogate the Russian treaty.
THE conduct ot the Russians in this
matter is no doubt satisfactory TO them"
he said, but to Us il seems unaccount-
able on any grounds. It has created
versal protest. we are here to express
our protest, and we appeal to that moral
sentiment of the world which. when
properly directed, is irresistible for any
human power
The resolution adopted at the meeting
was presented BY James Creelman. first
president of the National Citizens
Committee. II was the following:
Resolved. That this meeting, called by
representatives from every part of the
Union and rejecting every shade of pub
lie opinion, urgently request the Congress
OF the United States at its present session
to adopt the resolution now pending i'm the
Senate and House of Representatives look
ing to the abrogation OF the treaty Of 1882
between the United States and Russia. by
giving one years notice of its termination
pursuant to it's expressed provision, to the
end that our country at least shall no
longer behold with equanimity classitica-
ton of its citizens which, If ripened into
precedent. would eventually undermine
the greatest moral power on the earth.