No Agreement With Russia.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 16, 1912:
Administration Has Not Arranged a Modus Vivendi Pending a Treaty.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.— No modus vivendi has been arranged to keep Russia and the United States on a friendly footing after the expiration on Dec. 31 of the treaty between the two countries which was "denounced" by President Taft under a joint resolution of Congress growing out of the refusal of Russia to recognize passports issued by this Government to American citizens of the Jewish faith.
    While exchanges of some sort have been going on, their conclusion is involved in doubt. The statement about a modus was probably put out as a feeler to test public opinion in the United States. Investigation to-day showed that this Government did not wish to be regarded as having countenanced such a statement.
    No doubt is felt in official circles that Russia and the United States could exchange notes setting forth an agreement not to engage in tariff reprisals pending the negotiation of a new treaty, but even this, it is admitted, might be construed as a clear violation of the direct instruction of Congress that no treaty should be arranged with Russia that did not recognize the right of all American citizens to enter the Czar's dominions.