U. S. Won't Hesitate

TO GIVE EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY FOR JEWS.

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DELAY IN SENDING PETITION TO RUSSIA EXPLAINED.

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SITUATION IS BECOMING EXTREMELY DELICATE

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Washington, July 2.---The Position of the administration regarding the proposed transmission of the petition of Jewish citizens of the United States to the Russian government was made very clear and positive by a statement authorized by the state department last night. This statement was inspired by newspaper publications reflecting the attitude of the Russian government in the event of the presentation of such a petition through the medium of the United States embassy at St. Petersburg, which has been brought to the attention of high officers of the government. It was given very careful consideration both here and at Oyster Bay before a decision was reached to make any declaration regarding the matter. The statement is as follows:

"At the state department it was stated by a high official, in the absence of Secretary Hay, that the delay in forwarding the petition of the American citizens of the Jewish faith as to the ill treatment of their co-religionists in Russia was solely due to the delay in furnishing the address to the state department by the petitioners.

Scrupulously Careful.

"The state department would of course pay no heed to any statement purporting to emanate from the Russian government unless such statement were made officially in some form or other to our own government. The state department has been scrupulously careful to act only in accordance with all the requirement of official propriety, but within the limits thus laid down it will most certainly not hesitate to give expression to the deep sympathy felt not only by the administration but by all the American people for the unfortunate Jews who have been the victims in the recent appalling massacres and outrages. 

"In this connection it was pointed out by another official, who disclaimed any purpose to speak in his official capacity, however, that it seemed somewhat strange, to say the least, that the Russian government should choose this particular method of making a statement to the American people at the very time when by methods which are certainly the reverse of friendly to the United States, it has sought to make China join in breaking the plighted faith of all the powers as to open door in Manchuria, and has endeavored to bar our people from access to the Manchurian trade."

The above statement was shown to Count Cassini, Russian ambassador, last night but he declined to make any comment on it. Any reply to this statement must be made under direct instructions from St. Petersburg. It is realized, both at the state department and Russian embassy that the situation is extremely delicate.