Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-06
outline OF POLICY FOR PACIFIC MEANS
Maryland Democrats Formu John Hays Hammond on Jew
late Legislative Program. sh Passports in Russia.
HOLD SECRET CONFERENCE WOULD NOT END TREATY.
Bills Be Framed in Advance Prefers Exercise Diplomacy Re-
Meeting Of Legislature. talaion
EXTRA SESSION ABANDONED HOPEFUL OF NEGOTIATIONS
Of
Sympathy
Baltimore Police BILL Movement for Justice
NOT END TREATY
Prefers Exercise Of Diplomacy to Re
taliation.
HOPEFUL OF NEGOTIATIONS
Tells Hungarian Republican Club Of
New York Of His Sympathy With
Movement for Justice.

NEW YORK, December 6.-John Hays
Hammond declared before the Hungarian
Republican Club In an address at the din
ner given last night that he was heartily
| in sympathy with the movement to OBJ
| tain passports in Russia for American
| Jews, mot for Jews as such.' he added,
but because I regard the passport ques-
ton as an American and not a Jewish
question. and because / believe that every
citizen Of the United States Is entitled to
equal Fights with respect to the passports
and every other privilege accorded to o,u
citizens by any treaty our government
may have with the governments of other
nations" He would not abrogate the
treaty with Russia. but would rely on the
exercise Of d.piomacy.
Replies to Charges.
Mr.. Hammond made the dinner the oc-
casion to reply to Jacob H. Schiff. who
several weeks ago. in discussing the attl-
tude Of the State Department in the pass
port matter, said he had been told thal
.Mr. Hammond was appointed to head a
syndicate to develop business in Russo,
because Of has friendship to President
raft.
Mr.. Hammond. who had previously re-
torted that any statement that he had at
tempted to influence the President on the
passport question was IAN unqualified
faisehood. a cowardly lie," repeated his
DENIAL last n ght. Mr.. Hammond said:
"A charge has been made that l have
used my friendship with the President of
the United States to the prejudice OF the
Jewish race. 1t is indeed a grave charge.
and were 1t true I should not have the
hardwood to stand In tins presence and
to look into the friendly faces before me.
wish your continued respect and friend
ship. and / should not be worthy Of this
were to profess. in order to please you.
sentiments which I do not entertain.
Therefore, although you may differ with
my conclusions land I do not think that
such Will be the case) you must at least
respect my integrity of purpose.
The best answer / can make to this
charge is a recital of the facts in connec-
ton with my relationship to Russian af-
fairs, and l will ask you to bear with me
If l go somewhat into detail, for l am
anxious not merely that the facts. but the
spirit Of my Russian experiences should
be understood"
Mr.. Hammond went on to describe two
visits to Russia and continued:
Both of my visits were made in pur-
suance of my profession and on business
account. Politics had no part In them,
unless it We're deeply cherished hope
that might possibly In some manner
will between Russia and the United
States. All the facts as have here stat
ed them are open to easy and convincing
proof. Now If these facts taken In con-
convict those who have made these
charges Of falsehood and SANDER I SUBJ
nit to you that the fault is not mine.
Russian Anti-Semitic Feeling.
Turning now to affairs in Russia, it
will, believe, be Of interest to you to
hear the result Of my observations with
respect to the situation In that country as
it affects the Jewish people. l found
throughout Russia great prejudice against
the Jews. This prejudice was based upon
their completely In or sympathy with rev.
dictionary movements against the gov!
eminent The situation was further COM
plicated by commercial considerations
and, in a measure, by religious antipa-
thies. While acknowledging their connec-
ton with revolutionary movements. the
Russian Jews maintain in their own be-
half that If the government Of Russia
treated them fairly there would be no OBJ
ject in revolutionary activity on their
part To this the Russian government re-
plies. so l am told. that If the Jews would
be loyal and separate themselves from
revolutionary intrigue better treatment
would be accorded them. Now / shall not
attempt to justify the attitude of either
the RUSSIAN Jews OF OF the EtuSS1an gov
eminent. At the same time l have the
right to feel. as do feel a profound SYM
pathy with the Jews In the unquestiOned
hardships under which they suffer. as I
would and do feel for an oppressed race
in any other part Of the world.
IT endeavored forcibly to impress upon
officials of the Russian government tho
fact that nothing would tend more to
promote friendship In America for Russia
than the improvement of Jewish condl-
tons In that country.
Alleged Boasts Of Financiers.
Il think / ought not to dismiss this
subject without mentioning. by way Of
admonition. a circumstance that has very
considerably aggravated anti-Semitic
feeling in Russia. 1t is the knowledge,
widely circulated through Russian news
papers, that certain great Jewish fnan-
ciers In this country have acknowledged.
even boosted. that the success of the Jap
anese in their military operations against
Russia was the direct result of the finan-
cial assistance they rendered to japan.
The Russian people believe that this as
sistance was rendered in the spirit of re-
sentiment and enmity against the Russian
overnment. 1t has been said by those
familiar with the circumstances that
these great Jewish financiers expected to
and did realize large profit by the sale
of Japanese bonds. This IS serious
| charge, but l do not myself ascribe such
sordid motives. However that may be.
there can be no question that the hatred
Of the Jews in Russia has been grievously
| Intensified. and that they have been made
| the victims Of special persecution because
| Of this and similar unwise and resentful
acts of their co-religionists in other parts
| of the world.
His Own Views on Passports.
81 come now to the passport question.
| This question had not assumed an acute
stage during my stay in Russia, so far
as know, at least. In any event l did
| not discuss the subject with any official
of the Russian government For the
opinions / shall express on this subject
take the entire responsibility, for they
are my own based upon my personal
observation and strengthened by discus
| sion with unbiased persons familiar with
| the political conditions In Russia. wish
| also to state emphatically that I am NOT