In this way matters were smoothed over, to the great satisfaction of Russian diplomacy.  The public and Government of England confined themselves to expressing their feelings of “disgust” at the treatment of the Jews in Russia, but no immediate representations to St. Petersburg were attempted by Gladstone’s Cabinet.  For the same reason the English Prime Minister refused to forward to its destination a petition addressed to the Russian Government by the Jews of England, with Baron Rothschild at their head.  Count Ignatyev had no cause for worry.  The misunderstanding with the friendly Government had been removed, and the fiery protests at the English meetings interfered but little with his peace of mind.  He pursued his course, unabashed by the “disgust” which it aroused in the whole civilized world.

The voice of protest against the Russian barbarities which resounded throughout England was seconded in far-off America.  Long before the accession of Alexander III. the Government of the United States had repeated occasion to make representations to the Russian Government with reference to its treatment of the Jews.  These representations were prompted by the fact that American citizens of the Jewish faith were subjected during their stay in Russia to the same disabilities and discriminations which the Russian Government imposed upon its own Jews. [1] Yet, actuated by broader humanitarian considerations, the United States Government became interested in the general question of the position of Russian Jewry, and invited reports from its representatives at St. Petersburg on the subject. [2] On April 14, 1880, the Secretary of State, William M. Evarts, responding to a petition of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, who had complained about “the extraordinary hardships” which the Jews of Russia were made to suffer at that time, directed the United States Minister at St. Petersburg, John W. Foster, to bear in mind “the liberal sentiments of this Government” and to express its views “in a manner which will subserve the interests of religious freedom.” [3] Acting upon these instructions, Foster took occasion to discuss the Jewish question in his conversations with leading Russian officials about which he reported fully to his Government. [4]

[Footnote 1:  See the correspondence between the United States and Russia collected in House of Representatives, 51st Congress, 1st Session.  Executive Document No. 470, dated October 1, 1890.]

[Footnote 2:  A “memorandum on the legal position of the Hebrews in Russia” was transmitted by the American legation to the Secretary of State on September 29, 1872 (loc. cit. pp. 9-13).  An abstract from a Russian memorandum on the Jewish right of residence was forwarded in the same manner on March 15, 1875 (loc. cit., pp. 25-28).  The circular of Tolstoi against the pogroms (see later in the text, p. 314) is reproduced in full, loc. cit., p. 68 et seg.]