At the same session, the discussion of the emigration question was side-tracked by a new design of the slippery Minister.  The financier Samuel Polakov, who was close to Ignatyev, declared in a spirit of base flunkeyism that the labors of the conference would prove fruitless unless they were carried on in accordance with “Government instructions.”  On this occasion he informed the conference that in a talk which he had with the Minister the latter had branded the endeavors to stimulate emigration as “an incitement to sedition,” on the ground that “emigration does not exist for Russian citizens.”  Asked by the Minister for suggestions as to the best means of relieving the congestion of the Jews in the Pale, Polakov had replied:  “By settling them all over Russia.”  To this the Minister had retorted that he could not allow the settlement of Jews except in Central Asia and in the newly conquered oasis of Akhal-Tekke, [1] In obedience to these ministerial utterances, the obsequious financier sharply opposed the plan of a Jewish emigration to foreign lands, and seriously recommended to the conference to consider the proposal made by Ignatyev.  The Minister’s suggestion was bitterly attacked by Dr. Mandelstamm, who saw in it a new attempt to make sport of the Jews, Even Professor Bakst, who objected to emigration on principle, declared that the proposed scheme of settling the Jews amounted in reality to “a deportation to far-off places” and was tantamount to an official “classification of the Jews as criminals.”

[Footnote 1:  In the Trans-Caspian region.  It had been occupied by Russian troops shortly before—­in 1880.]

From the project of deportation, which failed to meet with the sympathy of the conference, the delegates proceeded to discuss the burning question of pogroms.  It was proposed to send a deputation to the Tzar, appealing to him to put a stop to the legislative restrictions, which were bound to inspire the Russian population with the belief that the Jews were outside the pale of the law.

In the question of foreign emigration the majority of the conference voted against the establishment of emigration committees, on the ground that the latter might give the impression as if the Jews were desirous of leaving Russia.

After a debate lasting four days the following resolutions were adopted: 

  First, to reject completely the thought of organizing emigration,
  as being subversive of the dignity of the Russian body politic and
  of the historic rights of the Jews to their present fatherland.

Second, to point to the necessity of abolishing the present discriminating legislation concerning the Jews, this abolition being the only means to regulate the relationship of the Jewish population to the original inhabitants.

  Third, to bring to the knowledge of the Government the passive
  attitude of the authorities which had clearly manifested itself
  during the time of the disorders.