Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-06
UR OP ORTUNITY
Strained Relations Between Germany and
Russia May Do Us Good.
Increased Demand for American
Goods Will Follow-Oil and Rye
Already Wanted Abroad.


Russia and Germany forms the subject of
report just received at the State Depart
ment from Mr.. F. H. Mason. U. S. consul
general at Frankfort who describes the
situation as "a new commercial oppor-
tunity for the United States"
He says:
READERS OF European politics are gen.
orally aware that during the past tive
months a serious disagreement has oc-
CURED between the governments Of Russia
and Germany In respect to a commercial
treaty between the two countries. and that
as a result negotiations were broken on
and Russia decreed against Germany a
retaliatory tariff In which all existing i'm
port duties should be advanced 30 per cent.
Germany promptly retorted by declaring a
similar increase Of so per cent in the duties
on all imports from Russia These two
| measures. which took effect simultaneously.
have practically suspended commerce be-
tween the two countries In several i'm
| portant classes of merchandise.
Under the best possible circumstances,
and even with good will on both sides. the
present German embargo against Russia
| cannot be modified by the adoption OF a
new treaty until the meeting of the parlia-
ment at Berlin in November, by which
time most Of the rivers and canals of
Russia will be closed to navigation, leav-
ing the transportation Of freight exclu-
sively to the railways. whose rates for long
distances, especially in Russia. are prac-
tically prohibitory for grain and coarse
products Of all kinds. The Russo-German
| commerce for the coming autumn and win
ter must therefore practically cease or
struggle along under a 50 per cent increase
in the already high import duties exacted
by both countries upon even such articles
as food and other necessities of life. Ameri-
can producers and exporters will do well to
a hat Nvft 1lxr shn .N,,-~
and extent Of the opportunity which is thus
suddenly opened to products from the
United States.
The first requisite to such an examination
Is synopsis OF the quantity and character
OF the merchandise which has hitherto been
exchanged between Germany and Russia
Not all the statistics Of last years COM
merce are yet available. but IT is known
that In 1892 Russia sold to Germany rye
valued at 81. 10000. besides 800 600 barrels
OF refining petroleum and "a, 900 barrels Of
petroleum products. mainly lubricating oils
which are largely used by the German state
railways. In other respects the Russo
German trade Of 1892 did not offer e~ssn-
tally from that of 1891"
Chance for the United States.
Tables are given showing tia enormous
extent Of trade between Germany and Rus
sia, in regard to which Consul General Ma,
son reasons as follows:
The pertinent question In this ocnnection
Is how much Of this vast total sae United
states will be able to furnish at prices
within the artificial limit now established
by the retaliatory tariffs, which, so far as
they go. are enactments by both Germany
ana Russia In favor of all other producing
countries. and notably the United States
As to petroleum and petroleum products
II may be assumed that nearly the entire
supply which Germany has hitherto de-
rived from Russia will be imported. so long
present
United States. Already a large order for
lubricating oils was placed with the agent
or an American firm by the purchasing
agent OF the Prussian state railways which
nave hitherto purchased their entire s,pply
In Russia In 1892, which was agrict,ltu-
rauy a fair average year in Germany this
country imported from Russia sci 420 Oo0
worth OF rye alone. This year the cefiait
In the German home crop is greater than
In 1892, and the demand will be proportion-
ateiy increased Rye is cereal which it
Is always difficult for German importers TO
hnd In large quantities elsewhere than in
Russia, so that 1t may be safely assumed
that every bushel of rye that the United
s,;i a,S can spare from now until next July
How seriously the present advance of the
grain tarfffs will effect Russian exports to
Germany will be evident when it is con-
sidered that the ordinary German innort
duty on rye and wheat is marks ner loo
Kilograms equal to 81 cents per tushal
ADD to this the present retaiiatory Increase
VI oo per cent, ana we have duty of IS
cents per bushel. or a difference Of ls cents
per bushel In favor of the United States
India and such other nations as have a
surplus OF rye and wheat to sell.
1t Will be noticed that the imports from
germany into Russia have been hitherto
largely manufactured goods whereas Ger
man imports from Russia have been prin-
cipally OF the nature Of raw Materials The
import duties on most of them are already
so high in both countries that a 30 per
cent increase will be practically probibi-
tory, provided the supplies which each has
hitherto imported from the other can be
reasonably obtained elsewhere. Here, then.
Is a new and timely opportunity which
American producers and exporters will as
suredly not fail to study and improve"