New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-12
ALEyANDEES RESPONSE TO TILLIdM

ALEXANDER'S RESPONSE TO UILLIAM
1t is impossible to do otherwise than re-
gard as significant the fact that the victory
of the German Emperor at the polls. and
his acquisition of majority in the Reichstag
pledged to pass his pet scheme for the increase
of his army. has been Immediately followed not
only by the temporary rupture OF the negotIa-
tions for a commercial convention Between Ger
many and Russia which have been in progress
for some time but also by the Cars signature
of a treaty of commerce with France. The
abandonment of the negotiations in question
was due to pcrcmptory orders received from 81.
Petersburg. and was altogether unexpected by
the German Government. which was still less
prepared for the Publication Immediately after
ward in the Russian official papers o! max
imum customs tariff raising the duties from
20 to 80 per cent on imports from all countries
having no commercial agreement with Russia.
1t j. obvious that this new tariff i mainl, di-
rcctcd against Germany and intended to IN
lure German industries, and under the circum-
stances the announcement contained In the
cable dispatches from Europe To the effect that
the action of the Car Is viewed with much
stood
The treaty of commerce between France and
Russia is remarkable not alone by reason Of
the fact that il occurred almost simultaneously
with what i practically declaration by the
Car of "a tariff war with Germany. but also
because it constitutes if we arc to believe the
assurances Qf the Muscovitc Government, the
fist dciinit" treaty binding France 10 Russia.
And notwithstanding the efforts Of Alexander
H. who has even gone 10 the length OF issuing
an official circular warning all editors and
correspondents Of newspapers against attach
ing any political importance to the trcaty-an
altogether unprecedented coulse-lt Is evident
from the tone of the Partisan and German
press that the convention is far more signf-
cant than the Russian Autocrat would have
us believe. The tariff reductions conceded by
Russia to France are of the most extensive
and generous character. and are not confined
merely TO French wines, aS has been stated,
but extend to more than ninety staple articles
Of French industry and commerce.
While commercial treaties in. themselves are
usually of pacific character and import, that
which has just been concluded between Russia
and France parakes by reason Of the circum-
stances under which il has been contracted far
moro Of the nature Of an offensive and de-
fensivc alliance against a common enemy,
whose identity is clearly indicated by the tariff
war now nauguratcd at st. Petersburg against
Germany. In these times there is no surer
method Of allying the political interests Of two
nations than by commercial understanding.
a fact which the Berlin Government under
stood and put into practice when it created
first Of all its Zollvercin and at n later period
the commercial convention which mitcs Ger
many. Austria and Italy to each other. The
Cars action, therefore. must be regarded in
the light of response TO the victory obtained
at the polls a. the recent general election by
Emperor William and as notification that
hc too, is making the final preparations for
the inevitable conflict between the Slav and
the TcutOn races.