Mr. Wharton to Prince Cantacuzène.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 20th instant, in reply to Mr. Foster’s of the 16th, concerning the refusal of the Russian consul-general at New York to visé the United States passport of Mrs. Mannie Lerin.

In view of your statement that the visa in question was refused because Mrs. Lerin “declared herself to be a Jewess,” and in accordance with the instructions of the Imperial Government “interdicting to visé passports of foreign Jews, with the exception of certain cases under which Mrs. Lerin can not be placed,” I limit myself for the present to acknowledging your communication under the reserve necessarily imposed upon the Government by its constitution and laws, and by its just expectation that its certification of the character of American citizenship will be respected.

Accept, sir, etc.,

William E. Wharton,
Acting Secretary.