The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-30
(National News Association


! WASHINGTON, Dec, 2S-Next We'd
nesday, January /, 1913, marks the
day on which the treaty between Rus
STA and the United States will be alb
! rOgated.
This international agreement be-
tween the Car and Uncle Sam was en-
tered into in 1882 and was terminated
because of Russia's refusal to grant
passports to American citizens who
We're of the Jewish race.
! While the relations between these
two countries have been of a very cor
dial nature, in diplomatic sense,
matters began to grow acute when EN-
inent American citizens Of Hebrew
| lineage were subjected to the humil-
alton of being denied entrance into
Russia, solely because of their religion.
There has been some desultory agi-
tation in regard to this matter from
time to time but it came to a head last
summer when Oscar Straus, former
minister to Constantinople and re-
Gently a candidate for governor of New
York, and Jacob Schiff, a New York
banker, applied to the Russian gov
eminent for passports as American
citizens and were refused.
This hampering of two eminent
American citizens, whom this country
had frequently honored, precipitated
the agitation which eliminated in the
action taken by Congress abrogating
the treaty of January LIST of this year.
Steps have been taken, however. to
Fri Iv hot
the two countries.
Diplomatic Marvel
This alliance was one of the diplo-
matte marvels of the age Here was a
country which represented the last
word in autocratic tyranny assuming
and maintaining most cordial atti
! tude towards a Republic and a dem
ocracy which was fairly set out upon
a mission TO cast down those political
ideals which the former country was
making its chief object to maintain.
Notwithstanding this Russia has al
ways been ranged on the side of the
United States in every international
issue involving the welfare of this gov
eminent.
At the time the question of abroga-
ting the treaty was up before Con-
gress, President Taft pointed out that
the treaty was old and Anticipated and
that while it's provisions had been vio-
lated in the matter of the American
Jews. there were also other important
questions that had arisen since the
ratification of the treaty, which were
not covered by it.
1t was William Sulzer. Democratic
Governor-elect of the state of New
York. who initiated the fight on the
treaty in the house of representatives
AS chairman of the committee on For
eign affairs he arose and burning with
indignation he called the attention of
the house to the gross violation of the
ancient pact and demanded it's abroga-
ton.
Introducing a resolution to this eff.
feet, Mr.. Sulzer precipitated fight in
the house which lasted several days.
There We're some members who We're
disposed to look upon Russias discrim-
natory tactics with indifference, but
before the debate had progressed
many days the temper of the American
people made itself felt in so paipable
a manner that Congress voted over
whelmingly to abrogate the treaty.
Are Still Friends.
This does not mean that displomatic
relations between Russia and the Uni
ted States are indefinitely suspended
In fact they will not be cut off at all
in a practical sense. 1t was but recent
ly that President Taft sent a message
IN tho Gear ron p,.atlIlatiDc him unOu
his birthday and that ruler replied in
terms of cordiality.
The treaty of 1882 was effected by
James Buchanan, who was then minis
ter at ST. Petersburg, and Count Ness
elrode, Russian minister of foreign af-
fairs. At that time no mention was
made by either government of person
al rights independent OF Commercial
rights, and it was this very technical
ity which resulted in its abrogation
eighty years later.
At the time the treaty was made it
was looked upon as a shrewd diplo-
matte victory for Buchanan and he
was the recipient of numerous congrat-
ulations. The terms of the treaty We're
considered TO be broad although the
thought of both countries was. doubt
less, that it related to commercial af-
fairs only.
The first case of record in which
an American Jew was denied pass
port into Russia was in 1852, when
the Russian government refused to
wise the passport of A. Dudley Mann,
who was afterwards assistant secre-
tary of state and envoy to Brussels
from the Southern Confederacy during
the Civil war
Mr.. Mann complained to Secretary
of State Edward Everett. that the
first article ct the treaty had been