Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-06
Treaty with Russia
Discrimination Against An
can Citisens BecominE a s.
Gus Diplomatic Issue.

Unless II shall develop In the nea.
future that Ambassador Bakhmetieff,
the new ambassador from Russia. has
come to the United States empowered to
negotiate a new treaty recognising the
right Of Jewish citizens to travel and do
business In Russia without restriction,
resolutions Will be pressed in both houses
Of congress this winter TO abrogate the
treaty with Russia OF 1892"
The Washington correspondent OF the
New York Post thus sums up the pres
ent situation in diplomatic circles at the
national capital. The writer outlines
the history Of the treaty and summarizes
the issues involved as follows:
The protest against the Russian treaty
began forty years ago, and every secre-
tary OF state since Blaine has officially
protested to the Russian government
that the American Interpretation of the
treaty IL that every American citizen
shall be accorded the same rights Of
travel and OF doing business in Russia
which are accorded to Russian citizens
in the United States. The Russian gov
eminent, on the contrary, has insisted
that passports issued to American citi-
gems for travel or doing business In
Russia shall be subject 70 the laws and
rules and regulations of Russia, under
which there Is an admitted discrimina-
ton between Christian and Jewish citi-
Gems. In carrying out this policy, the
Russian government has gone so far, 1t
Is said, as to wise the passports of
American citizens at their consulates in
New York Chicago. and elsewhere, with
especial reference to the religion Of the
passport. In this way Catholic priests
and Protestant missionaries have been
denied entrance into Russia, while Jewish
citizens have been Disseminated against
in almost every conceivable way.
During the Cleveland administration an
extradition treaty with Russia was nego-
tated at the instance of that country. A
protest was lodged against such treaty
at the time. 1t being strongly suspected
In some quarters that an attempt would
be made under II to extradite political
prisoners. Such an attempt was actually
made two years ago. 1t Is said that the
final negotiation OF the treaty was ac-
complished on a promise that Russia
would either negotiate a new treaty OF
the treaty of 1882 or would amend its
method OF administration Of that treaty
In a manner satistactory to the United
States.
The position of those who now wish
congress to move in the direction of
abrogating the treaty with Russia OF 1892
Is this:
They hold that Russia has no right to
interpret the treaty or to administer 1t
as It does, and that, In discriminating
against certain American citizens, IT is
violating the treaty. They do not favor
the immediate abrogation OF the treaty
on that ground, but prefer that advantage
be taken of the clause requiring bne
years notice to be given before abroEa-
ton takes place.
secondly, II Russia is right in its inter-
pretation OF the treaty. then the treaty,
they hold, Is unconstitutional on the
ground that It permits discrimination be-
tween American citizens either because
OF their religious belief or previous condi
ton. They hold. also that such a treaty
would not and could not have been
entered into by the United States in 1882
II II had been known at that time that
Russia had intended TO interpret the
document as has been done.
While those who press for the abroRa-
ton OF the treaty at this time admit that
Russia cannot be compelled to accent
their view, which they believe is the
broad American view, they do feel that
they are in a position to ask their own
government TO stand for ana nro.i.t..