Special Cable to The New York Times, London, Aug. 18.
Ever since the Czar's promise of autonomy to Poland reports have been
current that the next step likely to be taken by the Russian Government
along the same lines of initiative will be a proclamation assuring the
Jews of equal civil and political rights. A Paris dispatch today goes
the length of stating that such a proclamation is shortly to be issued.
From inquiries made in authoritative quarters THE NEW YORK TIMES is able
to state that, while there is no official authority for such a
prediction, there is good reason to believe that some measure of reform
along the lines indicated is likely. Both in France and England,
Russia's reactionary policy is the only element which has aroused any
misgivings regarding what it is hoped in the two first-named countries
will be the results of the war.
The enthusiasm aroused in France by the decree affecting Poland gives
the measure of relief caused by the removal of these misgivings, so far
as one section of the non-orthodox subjects of the Czar are concerned.
Equal relief would be felt among a large and representative body of the
British public were definite action taken by the Russian Government to
remove the disabilities under which the Jews in Russia labor. I have
authority for stating that steps have been taken to bring this point of
view to the attention of the Russian Government.
Officially, the British Government can take no action which could be
regarded as an interference with the domestic affairs of a friendly
power, and certain overzealous representations which have been made to
Sir Edward Grey overshoot the mark. Sir Edward Grey's liberal principles
are sufficiently well recognized to make it certain that what he is able
to do he is doing to remove all causes for the misgivings with which a
good number of his fellow-citizens regard the Russian alliance in its
moral aspect and its possible ultimate developments.
Great hopes are felt that these very delicate representations will meet
with success. Predictions are made that the final outcome of the
combined grant of autonomy to Poland and the removal of at least some of
the civil and religious disqualifications now weighing upon the Jews in
Russia will be the growth of a new State, in which the Jew and the Pole
will find an equal place in the sun and flourish exceedingly.
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