Russia from disabilities to which their Russian co-religionists were
liable by law.

On that occasion Earl Russell informed Lord Napier, then Her Majesty's
Ambassador at St. Petersburgh, that the effect of the 1st and 11th
Articles of the Treaty was to place British subjects on the footing of
Russian subjects before the law, each class being alike, and one not
more than the other amenable to all general laws applicable in like
cases; that as Russian subjects, being Jews, incurred certain
disabilities, the equality intended and provided for by the Treaty was
not infringed by British subjects who were Jews and resident in Russia
sharing the same disabilities. The despatch went on to say that it would
seem to be beyond the scope and general intent of a Treaty of Commerce
and Navigation if it were to be held to repeal in the persons of
foreigners the legal disabilities to which, for reasons of general State
policy, particular classes of individual natives of the country had been
subjected, and it was hardly to be supposed that such an interpretation
would be accepted or adopted by an independent Government as against
itself.

Her Majesty's Government feel that they cannot now insist upon a
construction of the Treaty at variance with that which was placed upon
it in 1862.

I am, &c.,

GRANVILLE.

("Parl. Paper, Russia," No. 4 (1881), p. 21.)

* * * * *

_Interpretation by Great Britain, 1891. Letter from the Marquis of
Salisbury to Sir Julian Goldsmid._

FOREIGN OFFICE,

_January 29th, 1891_.

SIR,--With reference to the letter from this office of the 16th ultimo
and to previous correspondence respecting the position of British Jews
in Russia, I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to inform you that
the question has been fully considered in communication with the Law
Officers of the Crown.

Her Majesty's Government are advised that, so long as the disabilities
to which British and Russian Jews are subjected are substantially the
same, it is not open to Her Majesty's Government to depart from the
interpretation of Treaties laid down in Lord Granville's despatch of
December 28, 1881.

You will find a copy of this despatch on page 21 of the Parliamentary
Paper "Russia No. 4, 1881."

I am, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

T. H. SANDERSON.

* * * * *

SIR J. GOLDSMID, BART., M.P.

_Interpretation by Great Britain, 1912. Letter