This cartoon illustrates tense diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States in 1911. The Treaty of 1832 between the United States and Russia was created to give citizens of both countries specific rights such as economic freedoms or freedom of movement, whether they resided in Russia or the United States. Slowly beginning in the 1890s and continuing into the 1900s, Russia was limiting the rights of Jewish citizens from the United States. Eventually these citizens’ United States passports were no longer accepted by the Russian government, which was clearly against the Treaty of 1832 (or the Treaty of Constantinople). Outraged by this breach, Congress issued the Sulzer Resolution, which called for the immediate nullification of the Treaty of 1832 due to Russia’s violation of its contents. The first panel of the cartoon shows the beginning of the political tension between Russia and the United States. Russia was offended by the language of the Sulzer Resolution, stating they never fully violated the treaty. The second panel shows United States resentment of Russia’s discrimination of their citizens. The third panel shows the United States compromising with Russia by changing the wording and nuance of the dispute to appeal to Russia’s sensibilities. During this political tension, President Taft held a strong desire to maintain diplomatic relations with Russia. Despite Taft’s efforts, diplomatic relationships between the United States and Russia remained strained due to a lack of compromise from either side. (Summary created by Mary Delano, History Intern, Spring 2018)
Published in the Chicago Tribune on December 19, 1911.
"136" -- Handwritten on verso.
"December 19, 1911" -- Handwritten on verso.
Pencil and ink on board.
Original in University of Missouri Special Collections, John Tinney McCutcheon Collection.
Digitized on September 2017. Equipment: Indus Color Book Scanner. Scanning software: bcs-2 version 3.4.9. Image specifications: 400 dpi, color. Access copies: tiffs with LZW compression, rotated and cropped.
Title from caption.
