Mr. McCormick to Count Lamsdorff.
St. Petersburg , August 22, 1904 .
Your Excellency: Under instructions from my Government, which I found awaiting me on my return from Carlsbad, I have the honor to bring before you for consideration at this time a subject which has been the occasion from time to time of friendly but sincerely earnest representations to the Russian Government on the part of that of the United States.
The feeling of the people of the United States, which is deep and widespread with reference to this subject, found expression in a resolution adopted on the 21st of April last by the House of Representatives. I assume that your excellency’s attention was called to this resolution at the time of its adoption, by His Excellency Count Cassini, His Imperial Majesty’s ambassador in Washington, and that a copy of the resolution was transmitted to you for your information.
As your excellency doubtless noted at the time, this resolution is conceived in a temperate spirit and expressed in moderate terms, such as to recommend its reception in a similar spirit as well as the consideration of the subject which it brings forward.
The text of this resolution was sent to me for my information in interpreting this expression of the feeling of the American people as to the treatment of the citizens in question, and I here beg to insert the resolution as placing that expression on record, although, as [Page 792] above indicated, a copy of the resolution has already been transmitted to you by Count Cassini:
[Fifty-Eighth Congress, second session.]
Congress of the United
States,
In the House of
Representatives, April 21, 1904.
Resolved, That the President be requested to renew negotiations with the Governments of countries where discrimination is made between American citizens on the ground of religious faith or belief to secure by treaty or otherwise uniformity of treatment and protection to American citizens holding passports duly issued by the authorities of the United States in order that all American citizens shall have equal freedom of travel and sojourn in those countries, without regard to race, creed, or religious faith.
This resolution voices not only the feelings of the people, but also a principle which lies at the foundation of our Government. It is for this reason that the question has been, is, and always will be a live question with us and liable to become acute and be brought forward at some time in such a way as to seriously disturb the friendly relations which have always existed between Russia and the United States.
Aside from the belief that the treatment accorded by Russia to many of our most reputable and honored citizens is needlessly repressive, public opinion, as your excellency knows, plays a large part in the foreign relations as well as domestic affairs with us, and when underneath this public opinion there lies an important principle, as is the case in the United States, it can not be left out of account by those who have maintained the close relations which it is desired by my Government to see maintained with this great Empire and her august ruler.
“That friendly representations,” as is set forth in my instructions, “have not hitherto produced results befitting the close intimacy of the relations of the two countries for more than a century, and so much in harmony with their traditional amity and mutual regard, is not, in the President’s judgment, ground for relaxing endeavors to bring about a better understanding, if only on the score of its expediency and reciprocal convenience.”
Moreover, in no other country in the world is class discrimination applied to our visiting citizens, nor can it be seen, from the practical standpoint, that the benefits accruing to Russia are sufficient to counterbalance the inconvenience involved. In the view of the President, “it is not easy to discern the compensating advantage to the Russian Government in the exclusion of a class of tourists and men of business whose character and position in life are such as to offer in most cases a guarantee against any abuse of the hospitality of Russia, and whose intelligence and sterling moral qualities fit them to be typical representatives of our people and to win for themselves abroad a no less degree of esteem than they enjoy in their own land.”
It seems to me that there are higher grounds to which to appeal, and to which it is opportune to appeal at this time, than those of expedience and reciprocal convenience, evidences of the influence of which have manifested themselves in steps already taken toward the alleviation of the condition of the representatives of the race referred to within the Empire.
At this time, too, when the world is extending its congratulations [Page 793] to His Majesty on an event which has brought happiness to himself and gratification to his friends; when he is extending the Imperial clemency to some, justly under the ban of the law, it would seem fitting to take under consideration this larger question, a solution of which would not only tend to draw closer the relations between this great Empire and the United States, but also to arouse a responsive feeling of good will throughout the world.
The railway and the telegraph are breaking down the barriers of distance which have until now kept apart the peoples of the various nations of the earth; Russia has made a notable contribution to this object in the great system of railways constructed within the Empire, which are operated in close connection and harmony with those of the outside world. To throw this great railway system open more fully to those who would avail themselves of it for legitimate purposes, is but to dedicate it to a use which would be of the greatest good to the Empire and the world at large.
Events have proven that no artificial barrier can keep out those who come with hostile intent or who, from without, seek to circulate ideas of hostile character. Is there any reason, therefore, why at least serious consideration should not now be given to the views of my Government as to the expediency of putting an end to such discriminations as now exist in Russia between different classes of American citizens on account of their religious faith when seeking to avail themselves of the common privilege of civilized peoples to visit other friendly countries for business or for travel.
In transmitting the views of my Government at this length, and personally adding some reasons for favorable action which seem to me to be cogent, I have been actuated by the desire, as your excellency will appreciate, to contribute something toward those friendly relations which have marked the past and which I value. For this reason I lend myself most earnestly to the work of carrying out my Government’s instructions, in the hope that the result will be such as to contribute to the removal of one question of disturbing character from the realm of discussion by a mutually satisfactory understanding concerning it.
I take this occasion to renew to your excellency the assurance of my high consideration.