The times., 1901-06-21
RUSSIAN TARIFF DISPUTE.
Count Cassini Holds Conference
With Secretary Hay.

With Secretary Hay.
Count Cassini the Russian Ambassador,
called at the State Department yesterday
and talked to Secretary Hay about the
tariff controversy between Russia and
the United States. No vital point was
touched upon in the discussion except the
suggestion that has been made by the
Treasury officials to the effect that the
additional duty imposed by Russia on
American bicycles and resins formed a
violation of section of the treaty of COM
merce with Russia adopted in 1882.
This article provides that no higher
duty shall be imposed on the importation
into Russia of articles produced in the
United States than is imposed on like
articles produced in any other country.
The same provision is made, of course,
regarding Russian articles imported into
this country. A discussion of this phase
of the question did not proceed very far,
however, for Secretary Hay frankly ad-
mitted that he felt the need of obtaining
further information in the matter from
the Treasury Department.
Accordingly. Mr.. Hay went to the
Treasury shortly before o'clock yester-
day afternoon and had a long conference
with Secretary Gage in reference to the
has taken relative to Russian sugar and
petroleum, and which are supposed to be
the cause of the retaliatory tariff meas
ures inaugurated by Russia Assistant
Secretary Spaulding, who is an expert of
recognized ability in customs matters
and thoroughly versed IN laws and pro-
ceeedings, was called into the conference.
1t was said afterward that the only OBJ
ject of Secretary Hays visit was to ac-
quaint himself thoroughly with the sub
ject in order that he may deal with 1t
intelligently upon the occasion of the
Russian Ambassadors next visit.
Secretary Gage took occasion to state
his views in regard to the alleged viola
tion of the old treaty of 1892 He holds
firmly that the Russian Government has
disregarded the terms of this treaty in
respect to the sixth article. He said that.
on the other hand. the action of this
Government In regard TO petroleum was
not directed against Russia more than
any other country, and that the order of
March g. 1901. relative to consular in
voices was passed on an old decision of
the Treasury Department and the Board
of General Appraisers.
Back of the disagreements over sugar
and petroleum, the assigned reasons for
the retaliatory threats of Russia, the ac-
tion of our Government in the matter of
reciprocity must be considered, in the
opinion of close students of our foreign
affairs here, as an underlying cause. Both
Russia and-Itely were greatly offended
by our treatment of them. It is believed
that Baron Fava's recall was due to his
failure to secure the Presidents signature
even to the Italian reciprocity treaty,
which had been negotiated with great
study and effort at the instance of the
United States. italians could not under
stand how diplomatic representative
could go so far and then be able to ac-
complish practically nothing Russia bore
the reciprocity affront with diplomatic
GOODNESS, but did not forget 1t.
The Russian treaty was a work of the
utmost study both there and here. 1t
opened all of Asiatic Russia TO the nearly
free entry of our dried and canned fruits,
which would have made the treaty aCcep-
table to the CaIifornians had it been pre-
sented and perhaps served with them as
an antidote for the Jamaica treaty. Am
bassador Cassini and the Russian Home
Office supposed that they were doing
business . especially since the work had
been undertaken at the request of the
United States. sg=
But when the treaty had been formu-
lated they could not even get II signed
Cassini was informed that President Nc
Kinley was unwilling to approve another
reciprocity treaty until the Senate had
disclosed its purposes with those already
before it. At this juncture Commission
er Kasson appeared before the Senate
Committees on Finance and Foreign Re
lations, and told them in plain English
that they were Offering an affront to
friendly nations by refusing to act upon
these treaties; he urged that their con-
stitutionaI duty was to accept or to re-
ject, but not to '"hang up conventions
Indefinitely, to the great annoyance of
nations which had consented to treat with
u.s. One or two of the most arrogant of
the members of the Foreign Relations
Committee told him in effect that the
Senate would run the foreign affairs of
this country, and would not be dictated
to by the executive department, and,
least Of all, would not be told by a spec
ial commissioner what international
courtesies II owed.
Mr.. Kasson accordingly resigned his Of
fee and proceeded to end the work Of
his bureau President Mckinley, the
great pacificator came in, and, while
deprecating any disagreement with the
Senate urged him TO remain in charge of
the reciprocity undertakings for while
longer This Mr.. Kasson consented TO do.
insisting, however. that he should take
no more salary while retaining so use
less an office.