No. 557.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Foster.
Washington, April 14, 1880.
Sir: I have received a letter from Messrs. S. Wolf and A. S. Solomons, of this city, representing the “Union of American-Hebrew Congregations,” in which they refer to newspaper statements indicating that the Jews in Russia have recently been subjected by the government there to extraordinary hardships, and expressing a desire that the minister of the United States to St. Petersburg may be instructed “to make such representations to the Czar’s government, in the interest of religious freedom and suffering humanity, as will best accord with the most emphasized liberal sentiments of the American people.” The writers of the letter observe at the same time that they are well “aware of the impropriety of one nation interfering with the internal affairs of another in matters of a purely local character.”
You are sufficiently well informed of the liberal sentiments of this government to perceive that whenever any pertinent occasion may arise its attitude must always be in complete harmony with the principle of extending all rights and privileges, without distinction on account of creed, and cannot fail, therefore, to conduct any affair of business or negotiation with the government to which you are accredited, which may involve any expression of the views of this government on the subject, in a manner which will subserve the interests of religious freedom. It would, of course, be inadmissible for the Government of the United States to approach the Government of Russia in criticism of its laws and regulations, except so far as such laws and regulations may injuriously affect citizens of this country, in violation of natural rights, treaty obligations, or the provisions of international law, but it is desired that the attitude of the minister, as regards questions of diplomatic controversy, which involve an expression of view on this subject, may be wholly consistent with the theory on which this government was founded.
I am, sir, &c.,