their own business. This feeling is closely akin to that which was shown sometimes in the United States before the civil war toward foreign comments upon our own "peculiar institution," when representations by such philanthropists as the Duchess of Sutherland, George Thompson, M. P., and others were indignantly repelled. This condition of opinion and the actions resulting from it are so extreme that it naturally occurs to one who has observed Russian history that a reaction can not be long deferred. The progress of Russia thus far has been mainly by a series of reactions. These have sometimes come with surprising suddenness. In view of that which took place when the transition was made from the policy of restriction followed by the Emperor Nicholas to the broadly liberal policy adopted by Alexander II, of which, being connected with this legation at that time, I was a witness, a reaction at present seems by no means impossible or even improbable. It is by no means neces sary that a change of reign should take place. A transition might be occasioned, as others have been, by the rise of some strong personality bringing to bear upon the dominant opinion the undoubted fact that the present system of repression toward the Israelites is from every point of view a failure, and that it is doing incalculable harm to Russia. This dispatch ought not, perhaps, to close without an apology for its length; the subject is one of great importance, and it has seemed to me a duty to furnish the Department, in answer to the Secretary's question, with as full a report regarding the present stage in the evolution of the matter concerned as my opportunities have enabled me to make. I am, etc., ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 119.] Mr. Gresham to Mr. Webb. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have received and read with attention Mr. White's dispatch No. 119, of the 6th ultimo, in relation to the present condition of the Israelites in Russia and to the reported enforcement of repressive edicts against them, calculated to result in an increased emigration of destitute people of that class to the United States. The thoroughness with which the minister has answered my telegraphic inquiry of May 18 is commended. The subject is receiving the President's earnest consideration. It has been for some time evident that the measures adopted by the Imperial Government against the Jews, although professedly a domestic policy directly affecting the subjects of the Czar, were calculated to injuriously affect the American people by abruptly forcing upon our shores a numerous class of immigrants destitute of resources and unfitted in many important respects for absorption into our body politic. The continued enforcement of such harsh measures, necessarily forcing upon us large numbers of degraded and undesirable persons, who must, in great measure, be supported, can not be regarded as consistent with the friendship which the Russian Government has long professed for the United States. I am, etc., W. Q. GRESHAM. No. 133.] Mr. Webb to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to send you herein the substance of a circular on the subject of the expulsion of Jews that has just appeared. It does not refer, I am informed, to Jews established in the trades-tailors, shoemakers, carpenters, etc., but to clerks, employés in banks, bank directors, apothecaries and their assistants, doctors, etc. Freely rendered the circular is as follows: The ministry of the interior has decided as follows relative to the question of expelling the Jews from localities where they are unlawfully residing, in the interest of said Jews and of peasants with whom they have business relations. The last term for the expulsion of Jews from towns to localities granted them is extended to June 1, 1894. Governors of provinces are informed that in no case is this term to be extended longer than June 1, 1895. This term refers to special cases, which must be reported to the ministry and receive sanction. Special attention is also called to passports of Jews. No Jews will be allowed to remain in provincial towns excepting as travelers, residing temporarily, as cases shown in section 151 of the statutes on passports. Expulsion of Jews from the military districts of the Caucasus. The minister of war has ordered the authorities of the Verskoi and Kouban districts to expel all Jews from the Kouban district within a month's notice, dating from the month of August. I am, etc., G. CREIGHTON WEBB, Chargé d'affaires ad interim. No. 165.] Mr. White to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Although the newspapers of western Europe inform us that local authorities in the southern part of the Empire have recently driven out a considerable number of Israelites, no corroboration of the report comes from any other source, nor is this legation receiving any of those complaints and calls for intervention which have generally accompanied increased pressure upon the Jewish community. On the other hand, sundry Russian newspapers of late mention the fact that the Government is issuing tickets from various places within the Jewish pale in Poland to the frontier at specially reduced rates, but these journals significantly add that the reduction operates only in one direction-that is, on trains going westward, and not on return tickets. This, of course, indicates that Jewish emigration is still desired by the authorities, and is likely to be somewhat increased. I am, etc., ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 149.] Mr. Gresham to Mr. White. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 22, 1893. SIR: I am in receipt of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury of the 20th instant, calling my attention to the following United States Press dispatch from their correspondent in St. Petersburg: LONDON, December 17. The United Press correspondent in St. Petersburg says that the Jewish emigrants now at frontier stations, on their way to America, if officially certified to be destitute, will be provided by Russian consuls at the ports of departure with the sums necessary to insure their admission into the United States. Mr. Carlisle requests that you be instructed to verify the foregoing report, and, should it be found to be authentic, to inform the Russian Government that assisted immigrants of the class mentioned, will not be permitted to land in the United States. You will give the matter your prompt and careful attention. I am, etc., W. Q. GRESHAM. Mr. Webb to Mr. Gresham. No. 172.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The Imperial Government has extended the time for the final expulsion of those Jews from St. Petersburg who are here in violation of the laws permitting their race to reside in this province to June, 1895. This is owing to the fact that the sudden withdrawal of so many laborers from the city would injure the interests of the merchant class. The explanation given by a high Government official of the entire movement, so far as it concerns this city, is that the laws permit the following classes of Jews to live here: First. Merchants of the first and second guilds. Second. Soldiers of the Emperor Nicholas who availed themselves of an imperial permission to register themselves as such within a certain period, long since expired, and their descendants. Third. Artisans of a certain grade who have registered. Fourth. Graduates of universities. That in the past fifteen years the Jewish population has enormously increased by natural means, by the bringing in of aged relatives, marriage, visiting friends, etc., and that now the class is to be weeded out and restricted to its legal limits. While this entails great hardship, the authorities say openly that it can not be helped; that the native Russian population can not compete with the Jew; that his mental equipment, steadfastness of purpose, self-denial, and clannishness make him so superior to the Slav that, for the Slav's own preservation, he must go. They also cite, as an example of their tolerance and to prove that their action is based on reasons of social economy rather than of religious intolerance, that recently a magnificent Jewish synagogue was consecrated here with great pomp and ceremony. I am, etc., G. CREIGHTON WEBB, No. 189.] Mr. White to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Referring to your dispatch 149, relative to the alleged assistance of Jewish emigrants to the United States, I have the honor to inform you that I have this day received a note from the imperial foreign office stating that this report is absolutely without foundation. I am, etc., ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 190.] Mr. White to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, February 17, 1894. (Received March 5.) SIR: Referring to the instructions contained in your dispatch No. 149, of December 22, 1893, requiring me to ascertain from the Russian Government whether Jewish emigration to the United States had been assisted by Russian consular authorities, and to mine, No. 189, of February 13, 1894, stating that I had received an answer from the ministry of foreign affairs to the effect that no such assistance had been given, I feel it my duty to call your attention to an article which appears in this morning's number of the St. Petersburger Zeitung, a German paper of excellent standing published in this city. The article, under the head of the "Jewish colonization question," gives an extract from a formal report laid before the general meeting of the directors of the Jewish Colonization Association in London, Baron von Hirsch presiding, on January 21, 1894. The report, after giving an account of the colonization of Russian Israelites in the Argentine Republic, goes on to state that a considerable number of the colonists were found incapable of labor; that it was necessary to expel these from the Jewish colonies in that region. That from May to December, 1893, more than 500 persons were thus driven out, and that "the greatest part of these were forwarded to North America, receiving, in addition to their traveling expenses, an amount of money sufficient to support them for a short time after their arrival." The report then goes on to speak of measures taken to bring out additional Jewish emigrants from Russia, presumably for the purpose of winnowing out the best for the Argentine Republic and forwarding those rejected as unfit to our own. This would seem to throw some light on the question of the Secre tary of the Treasury which formed the basis of your dispatch above referred to. I may add that the official report to the Jewish Colonization Association above referred to estimates the probable number of Russian Jewish emigrants into the Argentine Republic during the present year at about 4,000 persons. I am, etc., ANDREW D. WHITE. RIGHTS OF AMERICANS TO ACQUIRE REAL ESTATE. Mr. White to Mr. Gresham. No. 163.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, St. Petersburg, December 9, 1893. (Received December 26.) SIR: Mr. L. H. Smith, of Nicolaiefsk and Vladivostock, an American citizen doing a large business at those places and on the Amoor River, desires to purchase real estate for the purpose of his business in one or both of the places above named. Some time since he telegraphed and mailed to me to find whether he could, under the treaties between the United States and Russia, and under the laws of the Empire, acquire landed property as above. The Buchanan treaty seemed clear, but in view of various exceptions and the special regulations, I addressed a note to the foreign office, and obtained a very full and explicit reply, dated May 13/25, 1893, in which the following is the essential part: Citizens of the United States have the right, by virtue of the laws of the Empire and under the same conditions as all other foreigners, to acquire and possess landed property in Russia, in confining themselves to certain restrictions enforced under article 1003 of volume 9 of the Russian Code of Laws. Also These restrictions relate to the possession of real estate in the province of Turkestan, law of June 12, 1886, and of landed property outside of cities in the ten governments of Poland, and the governments of Bessarabia, Wilna, Vitebsk, Volhynia, Grodno, Kiev, Kowno, Courland, Livonia, Minsk, and Podolia, law of March 14, 1887. Mr. Smith is now here, and with the aid of a lawyer is seeking to establish his right, and he has applied to me for a copy of the abovenamed note in full. I have addressed to him a letter giving the essential part of the foreign office note above quoted, but have declined, under personal instructions, paragraph 95, on page 20, to communicate to him a certified copy of the note until authorized to do so by the Department of State.. I would now respectfully apply for this authorization, in case the Department sees fit to grant it. Mr. Smith is engaged in large business, and, as I am credibly informed, stands well among all with whom he has to do. He seems to be a man of intelligence and high character. He is very anxious to have a complete copy, as his lawyer tells him that this will be of the very greatest value in establishing his right. I am, etc., Mr. Uhl to Mr. White. ANDREW D. WHITE. No. 151.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge receipt of your No. 163, of the 9th instant, in relation to the request of Mr. L. H. Smith, an American citizen doing business in Russia, for a certified copy of a note from the foreign office concerning the right of Americans to acquire and hold real estate in Russia. |