Norwich bulletin., 1911-12-20
SENTIMENT IN RUSSIA.
Concession to United States Means
 Concession to all Foreign Nations


 St. Petersburg. Dec. Is-Having ac- cepted in an equitable spirit the noti- ficatiOn of the American ambassador that the treaty of commerce and nav igation entered into by the United States and Russia in 1892 would be the Russian government are now di- recting their attention to the question of new treaty IL is recognized that diplomacy of the most experience on the American side. if negotiations for a new treaty are to proceed satis- ! factorily. The agitation in the United
 States over the passport question and
 the brief term available for diplomatic action present difficulties to the full and free discussion of tho subject. It is pointed out by Russian officials i that the governments hands are tied by statutes which cannot be changed
 outside of the legislative machinery of the duma and the council of the em- pire as instituted in 1906. The whole question, in their opinion, seems to be
 dominated by d misunderstanding of
 the treaty of 1892, which makes no reference to passports. Article 1 of this treaty provides for the free en- | try of all American citizens on the sole condition that they observe the ! internal laws of the empire. This stipulation is reproduced in all the treaties with other powers. Therefore there has been no question of infringe ment of the treaty, but actually one of modification of the internal statutes, which can be done only by legisla- tive means
 Further. it is argued, if a passport statute had been originally enacted or if the question of passports were merely one of relations between the . United States and Russia, this ques- i ton might be a matter for diplomatic negotiation But the Russian statutes having reference to the Jews do not. concern only American Jews but all
 .tR G-Hn fn Tiez United States would mean a conces- sion to all other countries having Jew ish subjects. Russia say the officials, has no wish for such bargain and they ask what can America concede to Russia for the abolition of Jewish legislation ?''
 Tn responsible quarters the opinion is expressed that the political situation in Russia proper is not favorable to the realization of Jewish hopes. It is
 likely that Premier Kokovosoff per i sonally sees no harm in concessions to foreign Jews and a milder policy other elements in the Russian govern ment are differently disposed This 1 IS true in particular of the duma and 1 the council of the empire which have solid majorities against any weaken l ing of Russia's attitude. Indeei, Rus [ sia herself faces legislative elections | which will be held in 1913, and the dominant battlecry is one of national i ism.
 1 In parliamentary circles here the prevailing comment is characterized 1 by astonishment that the American ] government has responded readily To the Jewish outcry. The opinion is | expressed by members or the duma | that in all probability the Jews will l now attempt to force matters further. | American business men in ST. Peters | burg and Moscow have been follow l ing the situation with tense interest | ana depression prevails among them l at the prospect of the loss of the | market a t time when it was opening I most faNorably. The Rech. repre- senting liberal opinion. says the ma
 terial loss will be indubitably great