The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-23
Finance Minister De witte Says They
<z.s.-..-xhesCase of All Europe.
WILL BE NO MORE RETALIATION
IF THE CONTEMPLATING DUTY ON
SUGAR BE REMOVED.
De Witte Ready to Rescind His Re-
prisa1 Decree When Secretary
Gage Withdraws His Order.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 22.-Although
the situation arising out OF the Russo
American tariff controversy is unquestion-
ably full of peril. neither well-informed
Americans nor well-informed Russians ar
ticipate an unbreakable deadlock. The
most hopeful feature of the case is the
fact that the political relations between
the two powers remain absolutely unaf-
fected.
United States Ambassador Tower. who is
in close touch with the Russian Foreign
Office. said to-day: 1.-THE present CONNER
cial question will be decided in due time
by the proper authorities of both countries.
1t has not interrupted in the slightest the
cordial relations which have Always exist
ed between the United States and Russia" :"
A fear has been expressed that any
American concession would be considered
a sign of weakness by western Europe,
eagerly awaiting for an opportunity to
make concerted onslaught on American
exports and the American tariff system, and
that Russia opened the battle with this
in view The correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press has had opportunity to
inform himself authoritativey on this point
and can assert that Russia had no ulterior
designs whatever. All assertions to the
contrary are sufficiently discredited by NJ.
De W.tte's well-known warm sentiment for
America. 1t is understood the Russian
minister of finance, doubtless without in
Guiding Russia's great ally-France-in his
remarks. has recently observed: MY SEN
timents for America, like Russia's relations
with her, are warmer and closer than in
the case of all Europe"
An authoritative exposition of the Rus
sian position just given to the correspond
ent of the Associated Press explains why
Russia did not wait for the decision of
the United States Supreme Court and did
not strictly measure the reprisal to fit
American action. Russia. it is explained,
does not have dealings with the American
courts but with the American executive.
If the countervailing duty We're removed
tomorrow NJ. De Witte would withdraw
the reprisal tomorrow.
Russia's sugar policy is explained as fol-
lows: "Conformably 10 law the minister
annually fixes the amount of sugar to be
produced and disposed OF on the domestic
market. This amount increases every year
as the consumption increases. The minister
also fixes the maximum domestic price.
which diminishes each year.
There is no truth whatever in the state
ment that permanently high prices are con-
templated by the Russian policy. Prices
have fallen within ten years from eight 10
five and half roubles. If the producers
wish TO manufacture more sugar for ex-
port the government will not interfere 1t
Is argued by competitors that because do
nestle prices are higher i'm Russia than
elsewhere producers are able to sell lower
abroad and that producers could not sell
advantageously at the present export prices
IL they were not assured of profit on do
mestic sales large enough to give satisfac-
tory dividends. This is not TO he disputed,
but Russia answers that in any such view
of the case all American exports are boun-
ty fed. for American protection assures the
trust high prices In the domestic market
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6. COL A.