There can not be the least doubt but that the "pogrom" was premeditated and prepared by the troops, soldiers having been seen on the eve of the massacre enter lodgings and instruct the Christian population to hang out devotional objects as preservatives against what was going to happen. There were no khooligans on the premises, it appears, to provoke or to take part in the massacre. I am informed from reliable quarter that the number of Jews killed amounts to 137 (corpses identified), the number of wounded about thrice as many. The Jewish shops and houses along the principal streets and the central market pillage. Characteristic feature is that in opposition to the wholesale massacre of Jews and devastation of their homes was killed one (1) Christian civilian and one (1) soldier, another soldier being wounded. As to property one Christian shop and one hotel plundered. On the other hand, however, it can not be denied that attempts upon the lives of gendarmes, higher police officials, and military men had lately been particularly numerous in Siedletz. I have, etc., WITOLD FUCHS, Vice-Consul. [Inclosure 2.-Press Telegram Translation.] SIEDLETZ, August 30 (September 12), 1906. (Official.) Details of the disorders at Siedlitz. In the afternoon of August 28 (September 10) an officer was shot at from the balcony of a house in Igorodnaia street. Seven young men were arrested. The night of the 29th was quiet. On the 29th (September 11), at daybreak, another officer was fired at in Slodolnaia street. The troops opened fire against both houses. During the night of the 30th (September 12) two shots were fired from the garden in front of the treasury. It is evident the sentinels were aimed at and they replied by firing eight shots. Up to the present 6 Jews and 1 Jewess have been registered as wounded at the Christian Hospital. One Catholic was killed and another died of fright. At the Hebrew Hospital there are 17 Jews killed, 12 severely wounded, and 60 slightly wounded: 21 bodies have been buried at the Hebrew cemetery. Fifty-four persons, of whom 43 had used arms, were arrested. A dragoon accidentally killed himself. Twelve places were set on fire, but all of them were localized. Seven shots were fired from artillery, making breaches in two houses on Penknaia street. The firing was concentrated on the houses in the center of the town. The furniture of several apartments was damaged. The merchandise in several shops was injured. Large quantities of goods were stolen. To-day the town is quiet. A military committee has arrived from Warsaw. The Jews continue to remove from the towns to neighboring villages. The reports published in Polish newspapers are intentionally false or exaggerated in order to produce sensation. There have not been disorders in other parts of this government. No. 651.] Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, September 22, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to report that Baren Gunzburg, representing the Siedletz Jews, called upon M. Stolypin to urge against the trial of the prisoners by court-martial. The minister expressed his profound regrets for the excesses that had taken place and his determination to thoroughly investigate the facts and publicly distribute the responsibility, no matter upon whom it may fall. He also complied with the request of Baron Gunzburg notifying the governor-general of Warsaw of the desirability of having recourse to the ordinary tribunals. The premier, in conclusion, expressed the hope that the Siedletz riots would constitute the very last ordeal for the Jews, and touching the question of Jewish disabilities he stated that he would shortly introduce a bill extending Jewish rights and leaving it to the Douma to bestow absolute equality. I have, etc., No. 679.] G. v. L. MEYER. Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, November 1, 1906. SIR: I beg leave to report that at the sitting of the council of state last Saturday the question of according ordinary political rights to the Jews came up for discussion. Some divergency of opinion was manifested. It was finally decided by a vote of 28 to 16 not to deal separately with the Jewish problem, but to regard it as forming part of the general question of granting equal political rights to all nationalities in the Russian Empire. I have, etc., No. 705.] G. v. L. MEYER. Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, December 1, 1906. SIR: I beg leave to report that a semiofficial note published this week on the Jewish question states that the questions of permission for Jews to acquire land in all parts of Russia and the removal of the limits for Jewish settlement must be left to the Douma. While, however, such provisions would at present be premature, the three following measures will be carried out before the summoning of the Douma: The removal of the restrictive police regulations in twentyfive governments lying within Jewish pale; the promulgation of similar arrangements for Jews outside the pale; and the removal of the restrictions under which Jews labor regarding trade. I have, etc., No. 732.] G. v. L. MEYER. Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, December 31, 1906. SIR: I beg leave to report that in a conversation with Baron Gunzburg I learned to-day that it was definitely known that the Emperor had decided not to affix his signature to the bill presented by Stolypin granting certain privileges to the Jews, referred to in my dispatch of December 1, No. 705, namely: 59605-FR 1906- -83 The removal of the restrictive police regulations in twenty-five governments lying within Jewish pale; the promulgation of similar arrangements for Jews outside the pale; and the removal of the restrictions under which Jews labor regarding trade. It is understood that the Tsar stated that as the Douma was to meet within a few weeks it was better and wiser that no new legislation should be promulgated. Ever since this bill has been laid before the Emperor by the prime minister the reactionists have been active in their efforts to prevent the same becoming a law. It is felt that the attempt on Dubassoff's life and the assassination of Count Ignatieff have assisted the opponents to the bill in affecting the Emperor's decision. It is believed by many that the Emperor is not necessarily opposed to this legislation, but on a matter which affects so many people throughout the Empire he prefers action should be taken by the Douma. I have, etc., G. v. L. MEYER. No. 566.] PATENT LAW OF RUSSIA. Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: I beg leave to report herewith, for the information of the department, that on May 3, last, I received a letter from the law offices of Messrs. Gartner & Steward, Paterson, N. J., copy of which letter is inclosed herewith, inquiring as to the steps to be taken to get an extension of time to execute the necessary working under Russian patents granted to American citizens. Having referred this matter to the Imperial Government I have just received a note from the imperial ministry for foreign affairs, dated June 26 (July 9), copy and translation of which is attached hereto, stating that patents must be worked within five years from their issuance by the Russian Government; but, that if the stipulation in article 24 of the patent laws has not been carried out for exceptional causes beyond the power of the patent holder, the latter may present a petition for the conservation of his patent rights to His Majesty the Emperor through the department of commerce. I have notified Messrs. Gartner & Steward of this reply. I have, etc., [Inclosure 1.1 G. VON L. MEYER. Messrs. Gartner & Steward to Ambassador Meyer. LAW OFFICES GARTNER & STEWARD, United Bank Buildings, Paterson, N. J., April 20, 1906. YOUR EXCELLENCY: The early part of January we addressed a letter to the Imperial Russian embassy in Washington inquiring as to the steps to be taken to get an extension of time to execute the necessary working under Russian patents granted to American citizens and the inclosed letter was received by us advising us to communicate on the subject with your excellency. Similar advice has also been given to us by the State Department. The matter under consideration is as follows: The Russian patent law prescribes the working in Russia of an invention covered by a Russian patent within five years from the date of the issue of the patent, and if such working is not executed within five years, the patent will become null and void. We have a number of clients for whom we have procured Russian patents and secured the official working certificates within the time prescribed by law. At the present time, the working under certain Russian patents should be executed before the latter part of July, 1906, but, as said patents cover an invention for which at present there is no demand in Russia, we have not been able to find any manufacturer who would be willing to undertake the manufacturing of the machines in question-to comply with the requirements of the Russian law. Moreover, the invention covered by the above-mentioned patents will be of great commercial value for Russia within the next two or three years, and arrangements are being made at the present time to create a demand in Russia for said machines, but in view of the unsettled affairs, such as strikes, etc., said arrangements have so far not been completed. Our clients of course do not want to lose the patents for nonworking within five years from the date of the issue of the patents, for the reason above stated, that within the next few years said invention will be of great commercial value for Russian silk manufacturers, and we therefore ask your excellency to be kind enough to submit the matter to the proper authorities with a view of ascertaining if we could not secure an extension of time to work said invention in Russia-say an extension of from one to two years-and advise us of the steps to be taken to procure said extension. Thanking your excellency for any attention this matter may receive, we beg to remain, Yours, most respectfully, GARTNER & STEWARD. [Subinclosure.] Messrs. GARTNER & STEWARD, United Bank Building, Paterson, N. J. IMPERIAL RUSSIAN EMBASSY, GENTLEMEN: I have your letter of yesterday's date relating to the extension of the life of patents granted under the Russian patent law and would advise you to communicate on the subject with the United States ambassador at St. Petersburg, at the same time furnishing him with all necessary information in regard to the specific cases you have in hand, so as to enable him to lay this matter in complete shape before the proper authorities. Yours, faithfully, ROHN. [Inclosure 2.-Translation.] The Ministry for Foreign Affairs to Chargé Eddy. MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SECOND DEPARTMENT, MONSIEUR LE CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES: In reply to the embassy's note of April 21 (May 4) last relative to American inventions patented in Russia five years ago, I now have the honor to inform you that in conformity with article 24 of the regulations confirmed by His Majesty the Emperor on May 20, 1896, concerning patents, persons who have been granted patents are obliged to apply their inventions in Russia within a period of five years dating from the issuance of the patents. Should this not be done the said patent right will be considered invalid from the date of their official publication that they have been annulled. The department of commerce thinks it proper to state that this period being long enough, no question consequently has been raised in subsequent regulations, as to the granting of an extension of the fixed period. If, however, the stipulations in article 24 could not be carried out because of exceptional circumstances beyond the power of the patent holder, the latter may present a petition relative to the preservation of his patent to His Majesty the Emperor through the department of commerce. Please receive, etc., GOUBASTEFF. PROHIBITION OF FIREARMS. The Russian Ambassador to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] IMPERIAL EMBASSY OF RUSSIA, Mr. SECRETARY OF STATE: By virtue of special provisions recently promulgated the importation into the Empire of Russia, the Grand Duchy of Finland included, of all kinds of firearms (except ordinary sporting guns), such as cannon, shells, explosives of all kinds, gunpowder, cartridges, nitroglycerine, etc., is absolutely prohibited. In spite thereof these articles, shipped to anarchist committees, are at times surreptitiously carried across the border and after are confiscated by the authorities. In order to avoid any misunderstanding on that account and with the hope of discouraging as far as possible this unlawful importation, I have the honor, by order of my Government, to apply to your excellency with the request that you will kindly lend your cooperation to the end of causing such measures as you deem necessary to check the exportation of these prohibited articles to Russia to be taken consistently with the existing laws of the United States. Hoping that the Department of State will favorably receive this request, I embrace this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurances of my highest consideration. No. 17.] The Secretary of State to the Russian Ambassador. ROSEN. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 20, 1906. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th instant, stating that the Government of Russia has forbidden the importation into the Russian Empire of all kinds of firearms (except ordinary sporting guns), cannon, shells, explosives of all kinds, gunpowder, cartridges, nitroglycerine, etc., under penalty of confiscation of the articles in question. Your note has been communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, and will be published. Accept, etc., ELIHU ROOT. |