Mr. Adee to Mr.
Breckinridge.
Department of State,
Washington, July 19,
1895.
No. 97.]
Sir: Referring to Department’s No. 46, of April
15 last, and No. 92, of the 5th instant, in regard to the refusal of
Russian consular officers in the United States to visé the passports of
American citizens of Jewish faith, I send you copy of a letter addressed
by the Russian consul-general in New York to a citizen of the United
States who had presented a Department passport. It illustrates the
inquisitorial function assumed in regard to the religious faith of our
citizens by Russian agents within our domestic jurisdiction.
I am, etc.,
Alvey A. Adee,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure in No. 97.]
Mr. Waix to Mr.
Olney.
As I am a citizen of the United States of America and would like to
go for a short while on some business to Russia, and as I have sent
my passport, signed by your honor the 18th of last June, No. 654, to
the consul-general of Russia, A. E. Olarowsky, in New York to visé
it, and as you will please see from the answers of the consul,
certified copies inclosed, he refused to visé it (my passport) on
account that I am a Jew [Page 1061]
by religion, therefore I have the honor to ask you to advise me how
shall I do, as without the visé of the consul they won’t let me pass
the frontier of Russia.
Your obedient servant,
[Subinclosure 1.]
Mr. Peterson to
Mr. Waix.
Imperial Russian Consulate-General,
New York, June 27, 1895.
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of June
26, inclosing passport and $1.20, I would inform you that before
your passport can be viséed you must inform me where you were born
and what your religion is—if Christain or Jew.
I shall retain your passport and fee unil receipt of your answer.
Respectfully,
C. G. Peterson, Vice-Consul.
(For the Consul-General.)
[Subinclosure 2.]
Mr. Olarowsky to
Mr. Waix.
Imperial Russian Consulate-General,
New York, July 1, 1895.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of 28th ultimo, and desire to inform you that
I can not visé your passport, You must get permission from the
ministry of the interior at St. Petersburg to visit Russia before I
can visé your passport.
Herewith passport and postal note.
Respectfully,
A. E. Olarowsky,
Consul-General.
[Subinclosure 3.]
Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, Suffolk, ss:
Personally appeared Maior Waix, within named, and made oath that the
two within letters, dated June 27 and July 1, 1895, respectively,
are both true copies of the originals, and I certify that said
originals were duly exhibited to me, and that within copies are true
copies of the same.
Before me.
William W. Towle,
Justice of the Peace.
