Evening star., 1917-03-23
new RUSSIA GIVES
FREEDOM TO JEWS
Educational Restrictions Re-
moved-PoIiticaI and Religi-
GUS Emancipation to Follow.
WORD FROM AMBASSADOR

| First steps by the new Russian gov
| ernment toward the emancipation OF
Jews in Russia were reported today py
| Amba ssa dor Francis, who said all edu-
cational restrictions as to both schools
and colleges had been removed. A bull
letin given out by the State Department
was as follows:
| THE American embassy at Petrograo
reports that all restrictions limiting
the rights of Jews to enter universities
and schools in Russia have already
been removed and that they are now
| permitted to enter any school or uni
versity in the empire"
| Officials here look on this step aS q
forecast of freedom for the Jews IN
| Russia which will remove one or tho
gravest charges against the old Rus-
sian regime. Incidentally, also IT fore-
casts removal of passport restrictions
because of which the United states aoro-
gated the commercial treaty with Rus
sia. and lends confidence to statements
from officials in Petrograd that the
treaty soon may be renewed.
Poland and Finland to BENEFIT.
Combined with steps toward home
rule in Finland and promises of auton-
omy for Poland, it convinces officials
that the new government is losing no
time in carrying out the liberal pro-
gram on which it has been embarked.
The new leaders intend apparently to
carry out their program at once as es-
tablishing firmer foundation on which
the war can be prosecuted more sue
lcessfully.
The State Department already has re-
,G,Ay Of
from American Jews who wish to go TO
Russia, now that the Old regime which
barred them has passed away
At the present stage OF affairs 1t Is not
known when they may be issued. ana the
question involves some CORE esponoence
between the department and Petrograd
and the embassy here Officials reaiAe
that one of the great diffio ilties they VIII
have to contend with in issuing passports
to Russia will be to keep them out or the
hands of persons performing espionage
service for Germany.
U. S. Recognition Authorized.
As vet no word has been received
from Ambassador Francis as to the
recognition accorded the new govern
ment by the United States.
Following receipt of unofficial advices
telling of the appearance of Ambas-
sador Francis and his staff before the
ministers yesterday to express recognl-
ton, the State Department announced
1t had authorized this action at the sug-
gestion of the ambassador.
The action of the State Department
was based on a dispatch from Ambassa-
Wor Francis at Petrograd. In winch IL
was pointed out that the new Russia
was founded on the same principles
which had inspired the trainers of the
American republic, and that its lead
ers stood for all that this country held
sacred. The revolution. he said. had
been entirely successful and good order
prevailed everywhere.
Ambassador Commends Change.
The ambassador recalled the policy
of the United States to do everything
in its power for the extension of re-
publican principles, and spoke most
highly of a movement which in less
than a week had given the most auto
cratic country in the world a modern
government.
New credentials will be sent to AM
bassador Francis shortly, as until now
he has been personally accredited TO
Emperor Nicholas. Likewise, Amba ssa :
dor Bakmeteff here will receive new
credentials as representing not the EN-.
neror but the Russian government, II
the change in government does not re-
suit in changes IN the diplomatlc serV-
ice.
At the request of the new Russian gov
ernment the Post Office Department has
issued a regula ton to the effect that
no packages of merchandise except
bona fde trade samples can be mailed
hereafter to Russia or through Russian
territory to Persia and Rumania.
Revolution Costs 1000 Lives.
BERLIN, March 81, by wireless to
Sayville, N Y, March 23.-Quoting
from a dispatch from the Stockholm
correspondent OF the Vossische Zeitung.
the Overseas News Agency, (the official
German news bureau) says:
THE number killed during the revo-
luton in Russia Is now given officially
as 1000 ana the number of wounded
as 1000. In Helsingfors soldiers killed
about 100 Of their officers. Admiral
Nepenin, commander of the Russian
Baltic fleet, has been assassinated by
sailors Appeals to workmen to desist
from strikes have made little impress
sion, as they were issued by employers
and not by the workingmens party.
The provisional government has prom
| ised food to the people. but there is the
same scarcity as before the revolution.
Virtually no independent news service
| is allowed in Petrograd"