Evening star., 1933-11-18

by clergymen. priests. rabbis or ether
ecclesiastical functionaries who are
nationals of the United States Of
America. and that such clergymen,
priests, rabbiS or other ecclesiastical
functionaries will be protected from all
disability or persecution and will not be
denied entry into the territory of the
Soviet Union because of their eccleSi-
astical status.
am, nv dear Mr.. Litvinoff,
Very sincerely yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
Washington. November 16, 1893.
MY Dear Mr.. President:
In reply to your letter Of November
16. 1888. have the honor to inform
you that the Government of the Union
Of Soviet Socialist Republics as a fixed
policy accords the nationals of the
United States within the territory of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
the following rights referred to by you :;
l. The right to free exercise of
liberty of conscience and religious
worship" and protection from all dis
ability or persecution on account of
their religious faith or worship"
This right is supported by the fol-
lowing laws and regulations existing in
the various republics OF the Union:
Every person may profess any religion
or none. All restrictions of rights con-
nected with the profession OF any belief
whatsoever, or with the profession
Of any belief are annulled. decree Of
Jan. 23. 1918, art. 81
Within the confines of the Soviet
Union it is prohibited to issue any local
laws or regulations restricting or limit
ing freedom of conscience, or estab-
fishing privileges or preferential rights
of any kind based upon the religious
profession Of any person. decree Of
Jan. %. 1918, art o.
2. The right to conduct without
annoyance or molestation of any kind
religious services and rites of a cere-
monial nature"
This right is supported by the follow
ing laws:
A free performance of religious rites
is guaranteed as long as it does not in
terfere with public order and is not
accompanied by interference with the
rights Of citizens of the Soviet Union.
Local authorities possess the right in
such cases to adopt all necessary
measures to preserve public order and
safety. decree Of Jan. %, 1918. art. 81
Interference with the performance of
religious rights. in so far as they do
not endanger public order and are not
accompanied by infringements on the
rights of others is punishable by COM
pulsory labor for a period up to six
months. Criminal Code, art. 1919
3. The right and opportunity TO
lease. erect or maintain in convenient
situations" churches, houses or ether
buildings appropriate for religious pur-
poses.
This right is supported by the follow
ing laws and regulations:
Believers belonging to a religious
society, with the object of making pro-
vision for their requirements in the
matter of religion. may lease under
contract, free of charge. from the Sub
District or District Executive Committee
or from the Town Soviet special build
ings for the purpose OF worship and
objects intended exclusively for the pur-
poses of their cult. decree of April 8,
1929, art l0.)
Furthermore. believers who have
formed religious society or a group of
believers may use for religious meetings
other buildings which have been placed
at their disposal on lease by private
persons or by local Soviets and Execu-
tice Committees. All rules established
for houses of worship are applicable to
these buildings. Contracts for the use
of such buildings shall be concluded by
individual believers, who will be held
responsible for their execution. In ad-
dition, these buildings must comply with
the sanitary and technical building
regulations. decree of April 8, 1929,
art l0)
The place of worship and religious
property shall be handed over for the
use OF believers forming religious So
ciety under contract concluded in the
name of the competent District Execu-
tive Committee or Town Soviet by the
competent administrative department
or branch or directly by the Sub-Dis-
trict Executive Committee. decree Of
April 8, 1929. art 15.)
The construction Of new places of
worship may take place at the desire
OF religious societies, provided that the
usual technical building regulations and
the special regulations laid down by the
Peoples Commissariat for Internal
Affairs are observed. decree of April
8, 1929. art. 45.)
4. The. right to collect from their
cO-religioniStS voluntary offer
ings fer religious purposes"
This right is supported by the fol-
lowing law:
Members of groups of believers and
religious societies may raise Subscrip-
tons among themselves and collect
voluntary offerings, both in the place
OF worship itself and outside it, but
only amongst the members of the re-
nglous association concerned and only
for purposes connected with the upkeep
Of the place of worship and the re-
ligious property. for the engagement of
ministers OF religion and for the ex-
penses of their executive body. Any
form of forced contribution in aid of
renglouS associations is punishable
under the Criminal Code. decree of
April 8, 1929, art. 54.)
D. Right to 'impart religious in
struction to their children either singly
or in groups or to have such instruction
impaired by persons whom they may
employ for such purpose"
This right is supported by the fol-
lowing law:
The school is separate from the
Church Instruction in religious doc
trines is not permitted in any govern
mental and common schools, nor in
private teaching institutions where
general subjects are taught. Persons
olay give or receive religious instruction
In private manner. decree Of Jan.
90 1918, art. 81
Furthermore, the Soviet Government
is prepared to include in a consular
covenant to be negotiated Immediately
following the establishment of relations
between our two countries provisions
in which nationals of the United
States shall be granted rights with ref
e.ence to freedom of conscience ana