The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-22
ENGLISH WOMAN PARDoNED,


acted together in the joint iuterua.
tional piracy through which Persia
was reduced to the pitiful straits OF
being two disjointcd, dependent prov
inces, the wide differences between Rus
sian methods Of thought and British
methods are constantly making friction
between the two countries. One of the
most recent causes of this friction is
the case OF the English woman, Kate
Malccka. A Polish refugee gaining
habitat in England, married an Eng
llsh woman, and their daughter, born
in England, was the subject of the bit
ter recrimination so recently INDUCED
in. Miss Malecka went on visit to
Poland, and while there was arrested
by Russian officials on the charge of
obnoxious political activity Her
name was Polish. and she was treated
rs a Polish subject of Russia At the
trial. this English woman was unable
to make an effective answer to the
charges brought against her. She did
net know the Russian language at all,
and very little of Polish, She was not
properly aided by an interpreter, and
her case practically went by default
The Russians claimed that the eyi.
dence convicted her of imprudent po-
htical activity in Warsaw, in associat.
ing with patriotic Polanders, and in
forwarding letters for them But there
was no direct proof at all that she had
been engaged in any conspiracy against
was against Governmental orders, Ac-
cordingly she was convicted and sen.
fenced to Siberia
Upon this a tremendous uproar arose
in England, where protest was unani-
nous against this sort of dealing with
an English woman, a British subject,
over whom it was clear that Russia
had no possible juridiction, since she
had never renounced her British citizen
ship and had never taken any steps
whatever to establish a new citizen
ship or even residence in Poland. The
demand for fair trial was refused
and her sentence was confirmed. Rep.
resentatlon was made TO the Car. how
ever, that the entente between Great
Britain and Russia would be seriously
if this sentence we're car
red into effect. The Czar thcreupon
exercised his pardoning power, and set
Miss Malecka free, on the condition
That she should never return to any
part of the Russian jurisdiction.
The action Of Russia in the case of
Miss Malecka was quite in accord with |
,he usual juridicIal and administrative
procedure of Russia; but it was so |
absolutely foreign and even revolving
TO the fairmindcd British sense of
justice that the British Government
'ould not afford to allow the sentence
% be put into force But the pardon
by the Car left the principles involved
precisely as before. Russia maintains
he proprlcty Of her procedure. and at
he same time vindicatcs the power OF
he Car TO pardon at his will. Great
gains rather doubtful victory,
PERSONAL only to Miss Malecka. and
gaining nothing whatever in principle.
It is likely that the Russian officials
would, in another such case, simply
conduct their victim to the frontier and
warn her from returning, as Russians
commonly do in warning foreigners
Who show disposition to disobey the
political code Of Russia.
So, the British conscience is only
partly Modified, and vet nothing can
'e done, since the immediate cause of
he friction has been removed through
he pardon. The case is ended, but il
S conspicuous example of the differ
nee between British and Russian pro.
edure, the contrast between Russian
toldity in relation to personal out
age and the sepsitiveness of the Brit
sh opinion on the same subject. Doubt
ess. however, though nothing has been
aimed In principle by the British re.
the case will serve as
warning to Russia not to repeat any
uch invasion Of British individual
ohfs