The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-16

Washington. Dec. 16.--That the Sui
ger resolution abrogating the treaty Of
1899 would bo considered an "insult
to Russia" If enacted into law. was
the substance OF a message conveyed
TO President Taft today by Secretary
Knox ollowing conference be-
tween Knox and Russian Ambassador
Bakhmeteff.
All diplomatic negotiations looking
toward settlement of the Jewish
passport question, were broken off as
a result of the dissatisfaction of Rus
sit over the action Of the house OF
representative in adopting the Sulzer
resolution.
II was stated positively that the
message of the Russian ambassador
was not in any way in the nature of
threat against the United states.
The ambassador explained that Russia
did not object to this country abrogat-
ing the treaty but did object to the
strong language of the Sulzer resolu-
tion which naty charged Russia with
had faith and having violated the
terms of the treaty. With the sudden
termination OF the negotiations being
conducted by Ambassador Guild at
st. Petersburg, President Taft found
himself bereft of the means by which
he hoped to forestall direct action by
congress.
The. president this afternoon sum-
faoned Senator Cullom, Republican,
ri a.. .s.N..
mittee on foreign relations, and urg-
ed him to cause the resolution to be
so amended as TO remove the language
which Is offensive to Russia. The pres
ident held that the purpose could be
accomplished exactly as well by "a
tcmperately, worded" resolution to
which Russia would find no objection.
The Sulzer resolution reads in part
as follows:
"That the government of the Uni
ted states will not be party to any
treaty which discrimlnates between
American citizens on the ground of
race or religion; that the government
of Russia has violated the treaty be-
tween the United States and Russia,
concluded at ST. Petersburg December
is, 1882, refusing to honor American
passports duly issued to American
citizens on account of race or religion;
that in the Judgment Of the congress
the said treaty for the reasons afore-
said. ought to be terminated at the
earliest possible time"
The resolution concludes with in
srructions to the president to notify
Russia that the "sald treaty Is here
by declared to be terminated"
When told by the United Press that
the Russian ambassador had formally
protested against his resolution, Rep
resentative Sulzer chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs:
81 should like to have been In the
place of the secretary of state to
make reply to that protest. l know
what l SHOULD have said.
There is no doubt in my mind that
whether Russia protests or not, the
resolution Will pass the senate.'
Minority Leader Mann. Republican,
Illinois, who opposed the wording OF
the resolution on the floor Of the
house because OF the direct charge Of
violation made against Russia, was in
clined to say: 81 told You So" when
he heard Of the latest developments in
the case.
Mann, in the house, said:
"If the resolutiOpt passes and the
treaty is abrogated and Russia so
chooses, she may shut out all Amer
lean citizens If we say we are deter
mined that American citizens shall
go into ussa we can only force that
demand by conquerng at the end OF
war"
1t became known that the Russian
ambassador asked yesterday for a
conference and that he met President
Taft and Secretary Knox last evening.
Later Secretary Knox had further
conference with the ambassador vita
the result that he took the final mes
sage from Russia TO the president to-
day
II was said at the executive offices
a, the White House this afternoon that
the entire situation had been placed
tefore the senate committee on for
eign relations, and that 1t was up to
the senate to act.
Though no direct statement was
made as TO the wording of the pro-
test made by the Russian ambassador
IL is said that he made the fact very
clear that Russia considered the word
ing of the Sulzer resolution gratui-
tous and unnecessary.
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Berlin is spending "a trine Of eighty
million dollars on municipal improves