Evening star., 1945-04-29
Religious Freedom Faces
Difficult Road at Farley
Unsuccessful Effort to Incorporate Basic y. S.
Policy Into League Covenant Is Cited as
World Strives for Amity
Bv T, E, KiSsline,

religious freedom for Americans in
Russia, and their right to lease or build
churches and religious institutions
there, was demanded as a condition
precedent to recognition of the Soviet
government. Never before were such
specific pledges regarding religion writ
ten into recognition papers in negotia-
tions participated in by the United
States. Mr. Litvinoff, on behalf of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
acceded to these demands and stated
that such rights would be granted to
American nationals Immediately upon
the establishment of relations between
our two countries, and that such pledge
would be included in consular conven-
ton to be negotiated Immediately fol-
lowing the establishment of relations
between the two countries. However,
the formal written promise remains to
be concluded.
1t is interesting to note that in cases
where territories were ceded to the
United States, "the inhabitants of the
ceded territory" were guaranteed "the
free enjoyment of their liberty. property
and religion" So reads our treaty with
Russia, March 80, 1867, by which Russia
ceded the territory of Alaska to the
United States (Article IT'D. This treaty
also provided that the churches which
have been built in the ceded territory by
the Russian government shall remain
the property of such members of the
Greek Oriental Church resident in the
Territory as may choose to worship
therein" (Article II)
Religious Liberty Guaranteed.
Other treaties regarding ceded terri
tories acquired by the United States, in
which the religious liberty of the in
habitants was specifically guaranteed
were: Treaty with France in 1903,
regarding the Louisiana Purchase;
treaty with Spain in 1919, regarding
the Floridas; with Mexico in 1848, ced-
ing New Mexico; the Gadsden Treaty
with Mexico, in 1853; with Spain in 1898,
regarding Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam,
Philippine Islands, with Denmark in
1916, concerning the Danish West In
OlCo n t1cdUy Will Cdpdll, LII 1914, plU-
tected the nationals in inundated is
lands in the Pacific.
Not to interfere in the internal affairs
of another nation was the wise admoni-
ton of our first President, George
Washington. However, an examination
of the documentary history of our for
eign relations discloses that the United
States has on number of occasions in
its diplomatic relations exerted itself
beyond the mere legal duty of protecting
its own nationals on the matter of re-
ligious freedom abroad. In fact, in one
instance, by specific treaty provision,
she sought to secure and protect the in
habitants of another nation in the free
exercise of liberty of conscience, in their
own homeland This was provided for
in the Treaty of Peace, Amity and
Commerce" with China, signed June 10,
1858 (Article XXX, and was further
extended in the treaty of July %, 1868,
and again in 1908, following the Boxer
Rebellion" Q9O0), during which an
allied fleet and an international army
the United States Marines participate
ing-were used to suppress an anti
Christian uprising
When the nationals of this and other
nations were prosecuted by anti-Chris-