ment with a view to bringing about the official recognition of the Alliance in Russia to enable it to form official committees in Russia and to collect money for the objects of the Alliance. Two delegates were sent repeat- edly to Russia to achieve this object, and, without consulting the Russian Jews as to the desirability of the proposed step, entered at once into negotiations with the Premier and with M. Kokovcheff, the Minister of Finance. After these negotiations had proceeded for some time, certain Russian Jews were approached, and they made it clear that the proposed step was not only against the interests of the Russian Jews, but might have most serious consequences. Since then, it is said, the opinions of a wider circle have been canvassed, and the unanimous view is in this sense. It is urged that if the Alliance succeeded in becoming legalized, or if it were merely noised abroad that the Russian Jews desired such legislation and were working towards that end, the Black Hundreds would be furnished with a most dangerous pretext. They would declare that the Russian Jews were conspiring with their coreligionists in the West against Russian interests. The name of the Alliance is to the Black Hundred and the reactionaries like a red flag to a bull, and they would not fail to utilize the least opportunity of aiming a blow at the Jews. The position of the Russian Jews would thus be changed for the worse, and the efforts of their non-Jewish friends would be greatly impeded. Another danger would be that, if the Alliance became legalized, it might be thought that it had placed itself at the beck and call of the present Russian Government. This view would bring the Alliance into discredit in Russia, which would be bad for the Alliance and for Jewish interests, and the Liberals would harbor the very natural suspicion that through the Alliance Russian Jewry had gone over into the camp of the reactionary Government. It would be fatal at one and the same time to encourage the attacks of the Black Hundreds and alienate Liberal sympathies. The Jewish press is outspoken in condemnation of this proceeding. The Russian Jewish press especially is very bitter against the Alliance, and protests
against the tendency on the part of so-called leading Jewish organizations to ignore the wishes and the views of Russian Jews as to what is best for their interests.
THREE YEARS OF THE ITO.
— THE Ito organization celebrated its third anniversary on Sunday evening, August 2, Mr. Zangwill delivering, as usual, a brilliant oration, in which he discussed the work of his organization, and in the course of which he criticized the Jewish Colonial Trust severely, although he expressed his willingness to go hand in hand with the Zionists when they have a practical scheme on hand. “Even now,” he said, “a way of co-operation may be found.” Aside from the numerous sallies of wit and clever argumentation on de- taills, Mr. Zangwill made the following points: The situation of the Jews in Russia is well-nigh hopeles. The crisis in the United States has reduced immigration to a negative factor. At present there is no country to which anybody could encourage an emigrant to go. It is true that in spite of the crisis the stream of immigration to Galveston never dried up, and as soon as the Presidential election is over with, the work will go on with renewed vigor. The Ito has not had to appeal to the public for funds for its geographical inquiry. That fund, unlike the fund raised for the investigation of Uganda, came from good, loyal-hearted Jews, among whom were two American Jews, Mr. Jacob H. Schiff and Mr. Joseph Fels. Zionists need not fear that the Itoists will seize their money, although the Jewish Colonial Trust might well support the Ito. The Ito and the Zionist organization have this in common,—they both agree that the situation demands the creation of an autonomous Jewish territory.. Zionism appealed to the public, through the Trust, for money to promote colonization schemes in any part of the world. Those who subscribed to the Trust have a right to expect that if a colonization scheme arises any where, part of the money and all the organization would be put at the disposal of the scheme. But the Trust has not willing to do that; instead it treats those who