The Russian Government publishes a much-belated denial of the order
said to have been forwarded by M. Plehve to Bessarabia directing the Governor responsible for Kisbineff not to use arms in protecting the Jews. A lawyer, however, who was present during the outrages reports that the police never interfered except to protect individual houses, that the mobs were convinced of the favour of the authorities, that they were directed by well-dressed men, and that those who attacked the shops had instruments with which to force the safes. The moment the authorities interfered the outrages stopped, and it was not necessary for the military to fire a single shot. This lawyer, it should in fairness be observed, is convinced that murder was not intended, and that the mob, which began with pillage only, gradually got out of hand. All this looks as if the authorities favoured a plan for com- pelling the Jews to quit Russia, but were reluctant when the mobs proceeded to murder to irritate them by protecting the Jews by military force. The instant the soldiers were ordered to load with ball the murderers, who are defended as maddened by their hatred of moneylenders, disappeared with- out an effort at resistance. No official explanation is forth. coming at the moment we write of the expulsion of the lima correspondent from St. Petersburg. It may, however, be due to official resentment at his having traced the outrages to official neglect.
Previous page
