Mr. Straus to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, April 20, 1889.
(Received May 6.)
No. 191.]
Sir: Referring to the subject-matter of the
Departments instructions Nos. 74, 107, 111, 140, 154, 168, etc., respecting
the restrictions attempted to be placed upon foreign Jews resorting to
Palestine, I inclose herewith for your information a copy of a memorial from
the Jerushalaim Lodge of the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith at
Jerusalem.
From this memorial it appears that the action taken by this legation under
the Department’s instruction, and by the English and French embassies, as
reported in my dispatches Nos. 80 and 85, respectively, of May 19 and 28,
1888, has had the desired effect in removing such restrictions.
The original memorial is elaborately engrossed in gold and rubric and written
in English and Hebrew. Considerable allowance must be made for the
extravagant language in which the memorial is couched, after the manner of
the East.
[Page 717]
I have sent a reply to the memoralists, stating in substance that I was
gratified to learn that the restrictions had been rescinded, and that the
action I had taken in the matter was in pursuance of and in strict
compliance with the Department’s instructions to protect American citizens
abroad in their rights and privileges as such irrespective of race and
creed.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
191.—Translation.]
Memorial from Jerushalaim Lodge of the Independent
Order of B’nai B’rith.
Honorable Sir: Deeply touched by feelings of
gratitude for your generous exertions on behalf of our Russian brethren,
who, in consequence of dire persecutions, were seeking a refuge in this
country, the Jerushalaim Lodge of the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith,
at their meeting of the 2d instant, unanimously and enthusiastically
resolved to tender you these expressions of their feelings.
The efficient way in discharging your official duties of the high post
you fill will secure you forever the admiration and gratitude not only
of your countrymen but also of the Jewish nation throughout the
universe. For, if we can boast of merchant princes and renowned names in
the fields of arts and science, you, honorable sir, are the first who
shed glory upon the Jewish name as a statesman.
It will always be remembered with deep satisfaction in the annals of the
Jewish history that a man, chosen by the enlightened Government of the
great American Republic to represent her important interests at the
Sublime Porte, never forgot his suffering brethren. You not only came to
Jerusalem, accompanied by your noble lady, to pay homage to the sacred
memories of our glorious past, but having become acquainted with the
restrictive measures taken against foreign Jewish emigrants, you used
all your influence with your colleagues and with the well-intentioned
Turkish Government, and succeeded in having the exceptional law
repealed. It is to you that we owe no more to witness the heartrending
scenes of the unhappy emigrants being mercilessly driven from our
shores, and therefore our lodge only follows the commands of simple duty
in expressing to you their appreciation of your noble deeds and their
lasting esteem and gratitude.
Jerushalaim Lodge of the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith.
- Dr. Hersberg, President,
- Ephraim Cohn, Vice-President.
- Ben Zenuda, Secretary.
